(Recitation) Once in Persia reigned a king who
upon his royal ring carved these words so true and
wise Which when held before his eyes gave him
counsel at a glance of his life of changing chance
Solemn words and these are they: "Even this
shall pass away"

Trains of camels through the sand brought him gems
from Samarkand Fleets of galleys through the sea
brought him pearls to match with thee But he
counted not his gain nor his treasure, mine or
main "What is wealth ?", the king would say,
"Even this shall pass away"

In the revel of his court, at the zenith of his
sport When the palms of all his guests burned with
clapping at his zest He among his figs and wine
would cry, "Oh, loving friends of mine
Pleasures may come, but they cannot stay, like
even this shall pass away ?"

The most beautiful woman ever seen was the bride
he chose his queen Pillowed on their royal bed,
whispering to her soul he said: "Though a
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But mortal flesh must come to clay and even these
shall pass away"

Towering over the village square, thirty meters in
the air Rose his statue, carved in stone, as the
king stood there alone Gazing at his sculptured
name, said to himself, "So what is fame ?
Fame, it's but slow decay, even this shall pass away"

Fighting furiously on a battlefield, 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 "Oh, but with patience
day by day, even this shall pass away"

Sick and sore with cancer; weak and tired and old,
just minutes yet to go to pass the gates o' gold
Spake he with his dying breath, "Life is
done, so what is death ?" Then in answer to
the king fell a sunbeam on his ring Reflecting
words he failed to say: "Even this shall pass away"