435. What if a Day by Thomas Campion

T Campion read by Classic Poetry Aloud: Giving voice to the poetry of the past. www.classicpoetryaloud.com -------------------------------------------- What if a Day by Thomas Campion (1567 – 1620) What if a day, or a month, or a year Crown thy delights with a thousand sweet contentings? Cannot a chance of a night or an hour Cross thy desires with as many sad tormentings? Fortune, honor, beauty, youth Are but blossoms dying; Wanton pleasure, doting love Are but shadows flying. All our joys are but toys, Idle thoughts deceiving; None have power of an hour In their lives’ bereaving. Earth’s but a point to the world, and a man Is but a point to the world’s compare´d centure; Shall then the point of a point be so vain As to triumph in a sely point’s adventure? As is hazard that we have, There is nothing biding; Days of pleasure are like streams Through fair meadows gliding. Weal and woe, time doth go, Time is never turning; Secret fates guide our states, Both in mirth and mourning. First aired: 25 February 2009 For hundreds more poetry readings, visit the Classic Poetry Aloud index. Reading © Classic Poetry Aloud 2009