The poem
Late, late, so late! and dark the night and chill! Late, late, so late! but we can enter still. Too late, too late! ye cannot enter now. No light had we: for that we do repent; And learning this, the bridegroom will relent. Too late, too late! ye cannot enter now. No light: so late! and dark and chill the night! O, let us in, that we may find the light! Too late, too late: ye cannot enter now.
Have we not heard the bridgegroom is so sweet? O, let us in, tho' late, to kiss his feet! No, no, too late! ye cannot enter now."
I don't recall my having read this poem by Tennyson. It is a powerful reminder based on a parable by Jesus in the book of Matthew. It is a warning that there are things which can't be left to the last minute...1. you can't acquire character or gain a skill without the time needed in dedicated practice. 2. There are times it is too late to borrow, or even buy what we needed to have saved and waiting. Be prepared is a moto for more than Boy Scouts. We can't borrow from others the more precious things such as courage, trust compassion and dedicated friendship, we have to earn it ourselves... it can't be found and bought in some second hand market.