Classic and Contemporary Poetry

VAIN, by PAUL JEAN TOULET Poet's Biography
First Line: Life is an image vain
Last Line: It's a queer pain.
Subject(s): Death; Pain; Tears; Dead, The; Suffering; Misery

Life is an image vain
As shadow on wall.
Yet the hieroglyph-stain
Your hours scrawl

Enchants me; your smiles
Are glistening spears;
And the sun's wiles
Your trothless tears.

Death is no whit less vain.
Night, in your fear,
Your heartbeats will not hear:
It's a queer pain.