Even this will pass away

Once in Persia reigned a king,
Who upon a signet ring
Carved a maxim strange and wise,
When held before his eyes,
Gave him counsel at a glance,
Fit for every change and chance
Solemn words and these were they:
“Even this will pass away”…

Fighting on the furious field,
Once a javelin pierced his shield,
Soldiers with a loud lament
Bore him bleeding to his tortured side,
“Pain is hard to bear,” he cried,
“But with patience, day by day,
“Even this will pass away”…

Struck with palsy, sore and old,
Waiting at the gates of gold,
Said he with his dying breath
“Life is done, but what is death!”
Then an answer to the king
Fell a sunbeam on his ring;
Showing by a heavenly ray,
“Even this will pass way”

Theodore Tilton