That laughing lad's red, rosy cheeks??
That lovely lasss' dimples??

Alas . . .

His cheeks grow flaccid, gray and weak;
Her dimples turn to wrinkles . . .

Time consumes all things extant,
The minute and the massive.
EAch microbe, mote or continent
Succombs to Time - impassive.

But, words and deeds delay Time's wear -
Despised or venerated.
The tyrant's boast - the martyr's prayer
Are, in minds, perpetuated.