Time, You Old Gipsy Man

 TIME, you old gipsy man,   
  Will you not stay,   
Put up your caravan   
  Just for one day?   
 
All things I'll give you             

Will you be my guest,   
Bells for your jennet   
Of silver the best,   
Goldsmiths shall beat you   
A great golden ring,      

Peacocks shall bow to you,   
Little boys sing,   
Oh, and sweet girls will   
Festoon you with may.   
Time, you old gipsy,      

Why hasten away?   
 
Last week in Babylon,   
Last night in Rome,   
Morning, and in the crush   
Under Paul's dome;      

Under Paul's dial   
You tighten your rein—   
Only a moment,   
And off once again;   
Off to some city      

Now blind in the womb,   
Off to another   
Ere that's in the tomb.   
 
Time, you old gipsy man,   
  Will you not stay,      

Put up your caravan   
  Just for one day?   

Ralph Hodgson.