Nature

Fading Summer

by Thomas Nashe 1567–1601?

From Lyrics from the Dramatists of the Elizabethan Age, ed. A. H. Bullen (London: Nimmo, 1889)

Nature

Fair summer droops, droop men and beasts there fore,
So fair a summer look for never more:
All good things vanish less than in a day,
Peace, plenty, pleasure, suddenly decay.
Go not yet away, bright soul of the sad year,
The earth is hell when thou leav'st to appear.

What, shall those flowers that decked thy garland erst,
Upon thy grave be wastefully dispersed?

O trees, consume your sap in sorrow's source,
Streams, turn to tears your tributary course.
Go not yet hence, bright soul of the sad year,
The earth is hell when thou leav'st to appear.

MLA

Nashe, Thomas. “Fading Summer.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/nash/2/.

Chicago

Nashe, Thomas. “Fading Summer.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/nash/2/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

More by Thomas Nashe