Falsehood

By William Cartwright

1611-1643


STILL do the stars impart their light
To those that travel in the night;
Still time runs on, nor doth the hand
Or shadow on the dial stand;
The streams still glide and constant are:
         Only thy mind
         Untrue I find,
         Which carelessly
         Neglects to be
Like stream or shadow, hand or star.

Fool that I am! I do recall
My words, and swear thou'rt like them all,
Thou seem'st like stars to nourish fire,
But O how cold is thy desire!
And like the hand upon the brass
         Thou point'st at me
         In mockery;
         If I come nigh
         Shade-like thou'lt fly,
And as the stream with murmur pass.

DayPoems Poem No. 324
<a href="http://www.daypoems.net/poems/324.html">Falsehood by William Cartwright</a>

The DayPoems Poetry Collection, www.daypoems.net
Timothy Bovee, editor

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