time wastes too fast

so anguished and poignant -written on the deathbed of martha jefferson, first in her handwriting and then that of thomas jefferson’s.

time wastes too fast: every letter i trace tells me with what rapidity life follows my pen. the days and hours of it are flying over our heads like clouds of windy day, never to return –more every thing presses on – and every time i kiss thy hand to bid adieu, every absence which follows it, are preludes to that eternal separation which we are shortly to make!

the passage is from tristam shandy (an epic, fictitious biography written in the victorian era england and recently made into an excellent if a bit slow movie with the title: tristam shandy: a cock and bull story -highly recommended).

also recommended: the post time wastes too fast and indeed the entire series and the pursuit of happiness by artist maira kalman on the times website.

~ by safrang on July 1, 2009.