Time How Short explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• The Vanity of Worldly Things

  The poem contrasts earthly comforts—honour, riches, kindred, friends—with their inability to support a dying hour.

• Hope of Heaven and Eternal Life

  Believers are described as happy souls who fear the Lord and look forward to being with Christ, where he will wipe away their tears.

Characters to notice

• The Lord

  The one who prolongs breath, sends summons, and appoints a place for the faithful.

• Jesus Christ

  The Saviour who will wipe away tears and give the word for believers to depart.

• The Narrator

  The speaker who observes the passage of time and expresses longing for Christ's face.

Key passages

• “Time, with an unwearied hand, Pushes round the seasons past; And in life’s frail glass the sand Sinks apace, not long to last”

  Time relentlessly moves the seasons forward, and the sand in life's fragile hourglass quickly runs out, indicating that our time is short.

  The opening lines emphasize the swift and unstoppable passage of time.

• “Many who, as you or I, The last year assembled thus, In their silent graves now lie: Graves will open soon for us.”

  Many people who were gathered like us last year are now dead and buried, and soon our graves will be opened for us as well.

  The poem reminds readers of the certainty of death and the nearness of the grave.

• “Wretched they and most forlorn, Who no better portion know; Better ne’er to have been born, Than to have our all below.”

  Those who have no better inheritance than earthly things are miserable and hopeless; it would have been better never to have been born than to have everything only in this world.

  The vanity of a life focused solely on worldly matters is starkly portrayed.

• “When the Lord his summons sends, Earthly comforts lose their power; Honour, riches, kindred, friends, Cannot cheer a dying hour.”

  When God calls us to die, earthly comforts become powerless; honor, wealth, family, and friends cannot bring comfort in the hour of death.

  The inadequacy of worldly things in the face of death is highlighted.

• “Happy souls who fear the Lord! Time is not too swift for you; When your Saviour gives the word. Glad you’ll bid the world adieu: Then he’ll wipe away your tears, Near himself appoint your place; Swifter fly, ye rolling years, Lord, we long to see thy face!”

  Blessed are those who revere God! For them, time is not too fast; when Christ calls, they will gladly leave the world. He will wipe away their tears and give them a place near himself. The poet urges the years to hurry, expressing a longing to see the Lord's face.

  The poem concludes with the blessed hope of believers and the eager anticipation of Christ's presence.