Even This Will Pass Away!

A simple poem/story encapsulating profound message worth contemplating... 

Even This Will Pass Away

Once in Persia reigned a king,
Who upon his signet ring,
Graved a maxim true and wise,
Which, when held before his eyes,
Gave him counsel at a glance,
Fit for every change and chance,
Solemn words, and these were they:
"EVEN THIS WILL PASS AWAY."

Trains of camel through the sand
Brought him gems from Samarcand;
Fleets of galleys through the seas
Brought him pearls to match with these,
But he counted little gain,
Treasures of the mine or main;
"What is wealth?" the king would say,
"EVEN THIS WILL PASS AWAY."

In the revels of his court,
At the zenith of the sport,
When the palms of all his guests
Burned with clapping at his jests,
He, amid his figs and wine,
Cried, "O loving friends of mine.
Pleasures come but not to stay,
EVEN THIS WILL PASS AWAY."

Lady, fairest ever seen
Was the bride he crowned as queen,
Pillowed on the marriage-bed
Whispering to his soul, he said,
"Though no bridegroom ever pressed
Fairer bosom to his breast,
Mortal flesh must come to clay!
EVEN THIS WILL PASS AWAY."

Fighting on a furious field,
Once a javelin pierced his shield,
Soldiers with a loud lament
Bore him bleeding to his tent,
Groaning from his tortured side,
"Pain is hard to bear;" he cried,
"But with patience, day by day,
EVEN THIS WILL PASS AWAY.”

Towering in a public square
Twenty cubits in this air,
Rose his statue carved in stone.
Then the king disguised, unknown,
Stood before his sculptured name.
Musing meekly, "what is fame?"
"Fame is but a slow decay!
EVEN THIS WILL PASS AWAY."

Struck with palsy, sore and old,
Waiting at the gates of gold,
Spake he with his dying breath
"Life is done, but what is Death?"
Then in answer to the king
Fell a sunbeam on his ring;
Showing by a heavenly ray.
"EVEN THIS WILL PASS AWAY."
—Theodore Tilton (1867).