Hymnal: Hymns, Selected and Original #714 (1828) Meter: 8.6.8.6 Hymnal Title: Hymns, Selected and Original Lyrics: 1 Life is a span, a fleeting hour;
How soon the vapour flies!
Man is a tender, transient flow'r,
That e'en in blooming dies.
2 The one lov'd form, now cold and dead,
Each mournful thought employs;
And nature weeps her comforts fled,
And wither'd all her joys.
3 But wait the interposing gloom,
And lo! stern winter flies;
And, drest in beauty's fairest bloom,
The flow'ry tribes arise.
4 Hope looks beyond the bounds of time,
When what we now deplore
Shall rise in full immortal prime
And bloom to fade no more.
5 Then cease, fond nature! cease thy tears;
Religion points on high:
There everlasting spring appears,
And joys that cannot die.
Topics: Death Death of the young; On the death of a child
Life is a span, a fleeting hour