FROM the first gleam of morning to the gray Of peaceful evening, lo, a life unrolled! In woven pictures all its changes told, Its lights, its shadows, every flitting ray, Till the long curtain, falling, dims the day, Steals from the dial's disk the sunlight's gold, And all the graven hours grow dark and cold Where late the glowing blaze of noontide lay. Ah! the warm blood runs wild in youthful veins, -- Let me no longer play with painted fire; New songs for new-born days! I would not tire The listening ears that wait for fresher strains In phrase new - moulded, new - forged rhythmic chains, With plaintive measures from a worn-out lyre. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...DRINKING SONG (4) by ALCAEUS OF MYTILENE MAY DAY by ADELAIDE A. ANDREWS INTERVAL by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN A NIGHT FANCY by HARRY RANDOLPH BLYTHE IBANT OBSCURAE by THOMAS EDWARD BROWN A CATCH by RICHARD EUGENE BURTON A PARAPHRASE ON THE LORD'S PRAYER by JOHN BYROM THE APE AND THE FOX, ON THE FRUITS OF GREEDINESS AND CREDULITY by JOHN BYROM |