Even This Shall Pass Away

Once in Persia reigned a king
Who upon his regal ring
Etched a caption true and wise,
Which, if held before his eyes,
Gave him counsel at a glance
Fit for every change and chance.
Solemn words, and these are they,
"Even this shall pass away."

Trains of camels through the sand
Brought him gems from Samarcand,
Fleets of galleys through the seas
Brought him pearls to rival these,
But he counted not his gain
Treasures of the mine or main,
"What is wealth?" the king would say,
"Even this shall pass away."

In the revels of his court,
At the zenith of his sport,
When the palms of all his guests
Burned with clapping at his jests,
Amid his figs and wine,
He cried, "O loving friends of mine,
Pleasures come, but not to stay,
Even this shall pass away."

Towering up above the square,
Way up high into the air,
Rose his statue, carved in stone.
All disguised, all unknown,
Gazing at his sculptured name,
Asked to himself, "What is fame?
Fame is but a slow decay,
And even this shall pass away."

Sick and tired and fading,
Thinish, beat and old,
Stood a mile outside the Gates of Gold,
Speaking with his dying breath,
"Life is done, so what is Death?"
Then, in answer to the king,
Fell a sunbeam on his ring,
Blinding light through fading grey
"'Cause even this shall pass away.
Even this shall pass away.
Even this shall pass.
Even this shall pass away."
Away
Away
Away