William Ernest Henley

Echoes. 30. Kate-a-Whimsies, John-a-Dreams

Kate-a-Whimsies, John-a-Dreams,
   Still debating, still delay,
And the world’s a ghost that gleams—
   Wavers—vanishes away!

We must live while live we can;
   We should love while love we may.
Dread in women, doubt in man . . .
   So the Infinite runs away.