WHAT though the rosebuds from my cheek Have faded all! which once so sleek Spoke youth, and joy, and careless thought. By guilt, or fear, or shame uncaught, My soul, uninjured, still hath youth, Its lively sense attests the truth! Oh! I can wander yet, and taste The beauties of the flowery waste, The nightingale's deep swell can feel Till to the eye a tear doth steal; Rapt! gaze upon the gem-decked night, Or mark the clear moon's gradual flight, Whilst the bright river's rippled wave Repeats the quivering beams she gave. Nor yet does Painting strive in vain To waken from its canvas plain The lofty passions of the mind, Or hint the sentiment refined: To the sweet magic yet I bow, As when youth decked my polished brow. The chisel's lightest touch to trace Through the pure form, or softened grace, Is lent me still; I still admire, And kindle at the Poet's fire -- Why Time! since these are left me still, Of lesser thefts e'en take thy fill. Yes, take all lustre from my eye, And let the blithe carnation fly, My tresses sprinkle o'er with snow, That boasted once their auburn glow, Break the slim form that was adored By him so loved, my wedded lord; But leave me, whilst all these you steal, The mind to taste, the nerve to feel! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...FOREFATHERS by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN UNDERWOODS: BOOK 1: 6. A VISIT FROM THE SEA by ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON A WOMAN'S APOLOGY by ALFRED AUSTIN ON THE NATURE OF FREE GRACE by JOHN BYROM REPLY TO SOME VERSES OF J.M.B. PIGOT by GEORGE GORDON BYRON GARIBALDI IN PIEDMONT by PHOEBE CARY WHAT THE FROGS SING by PHOEBE CARY MELANCHOLY: A FRAGMENT by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE OUT OF THE SHADOWS: AN UNFINISHED SONNET-SEQUENCE 4 by JOSEPH SEAMON COTTER JR. |