The Three Skulls

At Hickleton church, on the outskirts of Doncaster, there are three skulls embedded into the wall with the motto ‘To Day For Me, Tomorrow For Thee’ meaning enjoy today because it might be your last.

In Hickleton’s lych gate grin three skulls,
Oft remembered though memory dulls,
That grim verse scrawled ‘neath those three;
Today for Me,
Tomorrow for Thee.

Where as children our young hearts danced,
Around those spectres we often pranced,
Ever in youth our thoughts carefree;
Today for Me,
Tomorrow for Thee.

Many scenes have gone their ways,
Births, deaths and wedding days,
The grinning skulls still haunting me;
Today for Me,
Tomorrow for Thee.

They say this life is but vainglory,
All flesh and bone is transitory,
Their meaning now so clear to me;
Today for Me,
Tomorrow for Thee.

— John Davison