13 TODAY

Lo, here hath been dawning

Another blue day;

Think, wilt thou let it

Slip useless away?

Out of Eternity

This new day is born;

Into Eternity,

At night, will return.

Behold it aforetime

No eye ever did;

So soon it forever

From all eyes is hid.

Here hath been dawning

Another blue day;

Think, wilt thou let it

Slip useless away?

( Thomas Carlyle )

Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881) was a great Scotch writer of essays and history. He lived in Edinburgh, and later in London.

dawning : a day beginning

eternity : forever

Answer the following questions.

1) Why is the day called a “new day”?

2) Which lines remind us that the day will pass quickly?

3) What does the poet want us to think about?

4) Why does the poet repeat words in the last stanza?

5) What can we learn from reading this poem?