William Oldys: "On a Fly Drinking Out of His Cup"

On a Fly Drinking Out of his Cup


Busy, curious, thirsty fly!
Drink with me and drink as I:
Freely welcome to my cup,
Couldst thou sip and sip it up:
Make the most of life you may,
Life is short and wears away.

Both alike are mine and thine
Hastening quick to their decline:
Thine's a summer, mine's no more,
Though repeated to threescore.
Threescore summers, when they're gone,
Will appear as short as one!

-  William Oldys --
(1696--1761)
from A Poem a Day
Eds. Karin McCosker and Nicholas Albery 



Carpe diem is a very common theme, but I was struck by this one for some reason.