Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, CHRISTMAS, by WILLIAM DEAN HOWELLS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

CHRISTMAS, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Youth, in the heart of faith now wearing old
Last Line: Eternal in youth, and hope, and love and home!
Alternate Author Name(s): Howells, W. D.
Subject(s): Christmas; Hope; Love; Youth; Nativity, The; Optimism


Youth, in the heart of faith now wearing old,
Hope, in the darkness of this doubt and fear,
Love, in the law inexorably severe,
Home, in the cosmic exile! I, in the cold,
Soon dusk of this my latest year, behold
The beauty of thy coming, and the cheer
Familiar, mystical, divine and dear,
Feel as in all the years that have been told.
About thy forehead and within thine eyes
The innocent wisdom of the sage and child—
Experience with expectance reconciled—
Shines, with ineffable prescience: the surmise
Of being, when the years no longer come,
Eternal in youth, and hope, and love and home!





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