Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, LONELY MATURITY, by RICHARD MONCKTON MILNES


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

LONELY MATURITY, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: When from the key-stone of the arch of life
Last Line: "and once for all my ancient love regain!"
Alternate Author Name(s): Houghton, 1st Baron; Houghton, Lord
Subject(s): Maturity


WHEN from the key-stone of the arch of life
Man his ascent with earnest eyes surveys,
Sums and divides the steps of peace and strife,
And numbers o'er his good and evil days, --

If then, as well may be, he stand alone,
How will his heart recall the youthful throng,
Who leapt with helping hands from stone to stone,
And cheered the progress with their choral song!

How will sad memory point where, here and there,
Friend after friend, by falsehood or by fate,
From him or from each other parted were,
And love sometimes become the nurse of hate!

Yet at this hour no feelings dark or fierce,
No harsh desire to punish or condemn,
Through the grave silence of the past can pierce,
Reproach, if such there be, is not for them.

Rather, he thinks, he held not duly dear
Love, the best gift that man on man bestows,
While round his downward path, recluse and drear,
He feels the chill indifferent shadows close.

Old limbs, once broken, hardly knit together, --
Seldom old hearts with other hearts combine;
Suspicion coarsely weighs the fancy's feather,
Experience tests and mars the sense divine;

Thus now, though ever loth to underprize
Youth's sacred passions and delicious tears,
Still worthier seems to his reflective eyes
The Friendship that sustains maturer years.

"Why did I not," his spirit murmurs deep,
"At every cost of momentary pride
Preserve the love for which in vain I weep;
Why had I wish, or hope, or sense beside?

"O cruel issue of some selfish thought!
O long, long, echo of some angry tone!
O fruitless lesson, mercilessly taught,
Alone to linger and to die alone!

"No one again upon my breast to fall,
To name me by my common Christian name, --
No one in mutual banter to recall
Some youthful folly or some boyish game;

"No one with whom to reckon and compare
The good we won or missed; no one to draw
Excuses from past circumstance or care,
And mitigate the world's unreasoning law!

"Were I one moment with that presence blest,
I would o'erwhelm him with my humble pain,
I would invade the soul I once possest,
And once for all my ancient love regain!"





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