WITH cheerful step the traveller Pursues his early way, When first the dimly-dawning east Reveals the rising day. He bounds along his craggy road, He hastens up the height, And all he sees and all he hears, But only give delight. And if the mist retiring slow, Roll round its wavy white, He thinks the morning vapours hide Some beauty from his sight. But when behind the western clouds Departs the fading day, How wearily the traveller Pursues his evening way! Then sorely o'er the craggy road His painful footsteps creep, And slow with many a feeble pause, He labours up the steep. And if the mists of night close round, They fill his soul with fear; He dreads some unseen precipice, Some hidden danger near. So cheerfully does youth begin Life's pleasant morning stage; Alas! the evening traveller feels The fears of wary age! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...EPISTLE TO JOHN LAPRAIK, AN OLD SCOTTISH BARD by ROBERT BURNS THREE FRIENDS OF MINE: 5; SONNET by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW PEARLS OF THE FAITH: 76. YA WALI by EDWIN ARNOLD A WOMAN'S SONNETS: 12 by WILFRID SCAWEN BLUNT THE PAPER KITE, SELS by SAMUEL BOWDEN AN ELEGY ON SIR THOMAS OVERBURY; POISONED IN THE TOWER OF LONDON by WILLIAM BROWNE (1591-1643) |