Two Songs , opus 31

A little time for laughter,
A little time to sing,
A little time to kiss and cling,
And no more kissing after.

A little while for scheming
Love's unperfected schemes;
A little time for golden dreams,
Then no more any dreaming.

A little while 'twas given
To me to have thy love;
Now, like a ghost, alone I move
About a ruined heaven.

A little time for speaking
Things sweet to say and hear;
A time to seek, and find thee near,
Then no more any seeking.

A little time for saying
Words the heart breaks to say;
A short, sharp time wherein to pray,
Then no more need for praying;

But long, long years to weep in,
And comprehend the whole
Great grief that desolates the soul,
And eternity to sleep in.

While we slumber and sleep
The sun leaps up from the deep.
Daylight born at the leap!
Rapid, dominant, free,
A thirst to bathe in the uttermost sea.

While we linger at play,
If the year would stand at May!
Winds are up and away
Over land, over sea,
To their goal wherever their goal may be.

It is time to arise
To race for the promised prize.
The sun flies, the wind flies.
We are strong, we are free,
And home lies beyond the stars and sea.