I had great hopes in my tender youth Of winning a certain maiden And all of my thoughts and dreams, in truth, With love of that lass were laden. All I could do and think and plan Was centered and fixed about her, But when she married another man I worried along without her. And then I figured on wealth and fame As things that were worth the getting, And spent long years as I sought acclaim With plenty of toil and fretting, But wealth and honor were not for me And though I would never flout them I bow to destiny's harsh decree And worry along without them. It isn't fun when you fail to win The things that you think essential But in time you learn to lose—and grin, A fact that is providential; The dreams that I set my heart upon Are lost—and it's tough, don't doubt it; Life's left—and I guess when @3that@1 is gone I'll worry along without it! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...LAMENT FOR FLODDEN [FIELD] by JEAN ELLIOT (1727-1805) TO THE DANDELION by JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL THE OLD MAN'S WISH by WALTER POPE TO THE REV. F.D. MAURICE by ALFRED TENNYSON EMANCIPATION IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, APRIL 16, 1862 by JAMES MADISON BELL THE TROPHY GUNS by LEVI BISHOP THE INDIAN SUMMER by JOHN GARDINER CALKINS BRAINARD |