Like smoke, my hours are quickly gone, With only ashes left to mourn. Scarce with a smile I greet anew, Ere I do bid again adieu. The shadows rise, the shadows fall, Man sees but part, though God sees all. Husband thy hours with due care, For thus shalt thou extend the year. I govern all things by a measure, And keep the time in work and pleasure. Learn to borrow of the sun, Ere the night engulfs each one. Without the light the sun doth give, Not many men would care to live. The hours and minutes I ever renew, Like glorious rain or fall of the dew. I work for the sun and man alone, By marking the hours upon this stone. Learn, like me, to waste no time, Words are empty, actions climb. Man made this dial, with gnomon to plan A shadow in time to govern the man. Go, save thy time and mend thy ways, And thus prolong thy length of days. Come, learn the hour I have to tell, For like a friend I greet you well. Mortal, mortal, tell me why, You would live midst hours that die? All men equality shall know, When time for each has ceased to flow. Go, use the time as all men ought, A guide to life and food for thought. The hours of life will soon be passed, So live this day as if thy last. With certain seasons there is power, To alter the dials by minutes each hour. Good work ennobles everyone, And stands the test of time and sun. Learn, dear child, this one great truth, That all our love outlives our youth. Thy days are numbered, but by me Are only marked bright hours you see. When on me the hour you find, Traveller, traveller, know your mind. Man’s greatest friend’s his mother, Next this dial, then any other. Since hours to come are all in sight, O haste then while you have the light. The shades of night shall end the day, And drive the shade of light away. Man how to spend these hours proposes. But God alone my time disposes. Mark my shadow ere ’tis past, Not thy first, though chance thy last. Like a builder work and pray That all thy best outlives thy day. Let progress be thy motto bright, Forward thy watchword, while ’tis light. Faith I teach through hours I give, And men trust me while they live. I show the road to health this way, By ending work at close of day. God’s greatest gift to man is thine, To read the hour when sun doth shine.