Even This Shall Pass Away

Once in Persia reigned a king
 Who upon his regal ring
 Etched a caption true and wise
 Which, he held before his eyes
 Gave him counsel at a glance
 Fit for every change and chance
 Solemn words, and these are they
 "Even this shall pass away"
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 Trains of camels through the sand
 Brought him gems from Samarkand
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 Fleets of galleys through the seas
 Brought him pearls to rival these
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 But he counted little gain
 Treasures of the mine or main
 "What is wealth?" The king would say
 "Even this shall pass away"
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 In the revels of his court
 At the zenith of his sport
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 When the palms of all his guests
 Burned with clapping at his jests
 Amid his figs and wine
 He cried, "O loving friends of mine"
 "Pleasures come, but not to stay"
 "Even this shall pass away"
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 Towering up above the square
 Way up high into the air
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 Rose his statue, carved in stone
 All disguised, all unknown
 Gazing at his sculptured name
 Asked himself, "What is fame?"
 "Fame is but a slow decay"
 "And even this shall pass away"
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 Sick and tired and fading
 Thinnish, beat and old
 Stood a mile outside the Gates of Gold
 Speaking with his dying breath
 "Life is done, so what is Death?"
 Then, in answer to the king
 Fell a sunbeam on his ring
 Blinding light through fading gray
 "'Cause even this shall pass away"
 "Even this shall pass away"
 "Even this shall pass"
 "Even this shall pass away"
 Away
 Away
 Away