Poem by Edward Lear

Imitation of the Olden Poets

Time is a taper waning fast!
Use it, man, well whilst it doth last:
Lest burning downwards it consume away,
Before thou hast commenced the labour of the day.

Time is a pardon of a goodly soil!
Plenty shall crown thine honest toil:
But if uncultivated, rankest weeds
Shall choke the efforts of the rising seeds.

Time is a leasehold of uncertain date!
Granted to thee by everlasting fate.
Neglect not thou, ere thy short term expire,
To save thy soul from ever-burning fire. 

1. There was an Old Person of Leeds
2. There was an Old Man with a gong
3. There was an Old Man of the Isles
4. There was an Old Person of Ischia
5. There was an Old Man in a boat

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