William Cowper

“ For death is ever nigh;
Outstrips our unavailing speed,
Or meets us as we fly.
Thus the wreck'd mariner may strive
Some desert shore to gain,
Secure of life, if he survive
The fury of the main.
But there, to famine doom'd a prey,
Finds the mistaken wretch!
He but escap'd the troubled sea,
To perish on the beach.
Since then in vain we strive to guard
Our frailty from the foe;
Lord, let me live not unprepar'd
To meet the fatal blow!
This work was published before January 1, 1928, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago. ”