Time goes, you say? Ah no! Alas, Time stays, we go; Or…
““Time goes, you say? Ah no! Alas, Time stays, we go; Or else, were this not so, What need to chain the hours, For Youth were always ours? Time goes, you say?-ah no! Ours is the eyes' deceit Of men whose flying feet Lead through some landscape low; We pass, and think we see The earth's fixed surface flee:- Alas, Time stays,-we go! Once in the days of old, Your locks were curling gold, And mine had shamed the crow. Now, in the self-same stage, We've reached the silver age; Time goes, you say?-ah no! Once, when my voice was strong, I filled the woods with song To praise your 'rose' and 'snow'; My bird, that sang, is dead; Where are your roses fled? Alas, Time stays,-we go! See, in what traversed ways, What backward Fate delays The hopes we used to know; Where are our old desires?- Ah, where those vanished fires? Time goes, you say?-ah no! How far, how far, O Sweet, The past behind our feet Lies in the even-glow! Now, on the forward way, Let us fold hands, and pray; Alas, Time stays,-we go!””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Time is constant while humans change; we must accept impermanence and cherish moments.
In simple terms: Time never stops, we do.
Key Takeaway
Embrace change and live fully.
Themes
impermanence
nostalgia
acceptance
Mood
melancholic
contemplative
Type
poetic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- aging
- loss of youth
- creative inspiration
- life transitions
Key Concepts
temporal philosophy
human experience
poetic reflection
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you honor past while living now?
- What rituals help you accept change?
A Different Perspective
Focusing on loss can hinder present joy.