Dear friends, my solace in your gentle youth, Keep this, to be the comfort of your age, When sated eyes may prize a soberer page And visions, passing, leave the smile of truth. How full of empty passion and uncouth The pageant of the world's distracted stage! How fit for you and me the hermitage Of wise austerity and silent ruth! The idols of your life will one by one Desert you in your need: your young loves first, Then wife, then child, at last the sacred sun. Yet as you close your eyes, it will seem good To say: My life was not in all accurst; I suffered much, but something understood. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ODE ON A DISTANT PROSPECT OF CLAPHAM ACADEMY by THOMAS HOOD THE ROMANCE OF THE LILY by THOMAS LOVELL BEDDOES LOVE MAKES THE BEST POETS; AN IDYLLIUM by BION ONCE WE PLAYED by MATHILDE BLIND THUS FAR by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN FLOWER DAY by HARRY RANDOLPH BLYTHE THE MUTINY YEAR by PATRICK REGINALD CHALMERS THE CANTERBURY TALES: THE COOK'S PROLOGUE by GEOFFREY CHAUCER |