The Building of Time

    And Days and Months and Years， and Ages and Periods： wondrous¹ buildings！

    And every Moment has a Couch of gold for soft repose² ——

    A Moment equals a pulsation³ of the artery⁴ ——

    And between every two Moments stands a Daughter of Beulah，

    To feed the Sleepers⁵ on their Couches with maternal⁶ care.

    And every Minute has an azure⁷ Tent with silken Veils；

    And every Hour has a bright golden Gate carvèd with skill；

    And every Day and Night has Walls of brass⁸ and Gates of adamant⁹，

    Shining like precious stones， and ornamented¹⁰ with appropriate signs；

    And every Month a silver-pavèd Terrace， builded high；

    And every Year invulnerable Barriers with high Towers；

    And every Age is moated deep with Bridges of silver and gold；

    And every Seven Ages is encircled with a Flaming Fire.

    Now Seven Ages is amounting to Two Hundred Years：

    Each has its Guard， each Moment， Minute， Hour， Day， Month and Year；

    All are the work of Fairy hands of the Four Elements：

    The Guard are Angels of Providence¹¹ on duty evermore.

    Every Time less than a pulsation of the artery

    Is equal in its period and value to Six Thousand Years；

    For in this Period the Poet's Work is done； and all the great

    Events of Time start forth¹² and are conceiv'd in such a Period，

    Within a Moment， a Pulsation of the Artery.