Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, UNDERWOODS: BOOK 1: 11. TO WILL H. LOW, by ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON


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UNDERWOODS: BOOK 1: 11. TO WILL H. LOW, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Youth now flees on feathered foot
Last Line: We have come the primrose way.
Alternate Author Name(s): Stevenson, Robert Lewis Balfour
Subject(s): Beauty; Low, Will Hicok (1853-1932); Youth


YOUTH now flees on feathered foot.
Faint and fainter sounds the flute,
Rarer songs of gods; and still
Somewhere on the sunny hill,
Or along the winding stream,
Through the willows flits a dream;
Flits, but shows a smiling face,
Flees, but with so quaint a grace,
None can choose to stay at home,
All must follow, all must roam.

This is unborn beauty: she
Now in air floats high and free,
Takes the sun and breaks the blue; --
Late with stooping pinion flew
Raking hedgerow trees, and wet
Her wing in silver streams, and set
Shining foot on temple roof:
Now again she flies aloof,
Coasting mountain clouds and kiss't
By the evening's amethyst.

In wet wood and miry lane,
Still we pant and pound in vain;
Still with leaden foot we chase
Waning pinion, fainting face;
Still with grey hair we stumble on,
Till, behold, the vision gone!
Where hath fleeting beauty led?
To the doorway of the dead.
Life is over, life was gay:
We have come the primrose way.





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