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Thag VI.13
(vv. 447-452)

Sirimanda

Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
For free distribution only.

Alternate translation: Andrew Olendzki

Rain soddens what's covered
& doesn't sodden what's exposed.
So open up what's covered up,
so that it won't get soddened by the rain.

Attacked by death
	is the world,
surrounded by aging,
beset by the arrow of craving,
always obscured by desire.

Attacked by death
	is the world,
& encircled by aging,
constantly beaten, with no shelter,
	like a thief 
sentenced to punishment.

They encroach like masses of flame,
	these three:
	death, aging, & illness.
There's no strength to confront them,
no speed to run away.

Make the day not-in-vain,
	a little or a lot.
However much 
the day passes,
that's how much less 
	is life.
Your last day approaches.
	This isn't your time
	to be heedless.

Revised: Sunday 2005-07-03
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/sutta/khuddaka/theragatha/thag-06-13-tb0.html