Oh! might my ill-passed hours return again! No more, as then, should Sloth around me throw Her soul-enslaving, leaden chain! No more the precious time would I employ In giddy revels, or in thoughtless joy, A present joy producing future woe. But o'er the midnight Lamp I'd love to pore, I'd seek with care fair Learning's depths to sound, And gather scientific Lore: Or to mature the embryo thoughts inclin'd, That half-conceiv'd lay struggling in my mind, The cloisters' solitary gloom I'd round. 'Tis vain to wish, for Time has ta'en his flight -- For follies past be ceas'd the fruitless tears: Let follies past to future care incite. Averse maturer judgements to obey Youth owns, with pleasure owns, the Passions' sway, But sage Experience only comes with years. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TO A SQUIRREL AT KYLE-NA-NO by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS THE FEILIRE OF ADAMNAN by ADAMNAN THE GARLAND OF SLEEP by AUGUSTE ANGELLIER AFTER THE PLAY by HAMILTON FISH ARMSTRONG BURY HIM DEEP by THOMAS LOVELL BEDDOES QUATORZAINS: 9. TO MY LYRE by THOMAS LOVELL BEDDOES THE ROAD TO APPENZELL by HENRY GLASSFORD BELL |