O age, thou hast priceless serenity; And peace, which restless youth can never know, The golden wealth of memories, Wisdom, the fruit of long experience, A finer and more sharpened intellect, (Where is there wealth that is like wealth of mind?) Patience, and gentle tolerance; While youth in thoughtlessness is often cruel. And each day you grow nearer to your God, That goal of all humanity. While I, I have my body and my youth, A body that is filled with stinging fire, A lover, and the ecstasy of love, The joy of living, mad folly and desire, Beauty to charm, all things so glamorous. I have not known disillusionment. I bend not on a cane, nor on a crutch. My step is buoyant as though I walked in air. I never spare the time to say a prayer. Heedless I go, the careless way of youth, And wonder who is richer, you or I. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TO HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW; ON HIS BIRTHDAY, 27 FEB. 1867 by JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL ODES IV, 7. TO TORQUATUS. DIFFUGERE NIVES by QUINTUS HORATIUS FLACCUS SONNET: 116 by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE EMBLEMS OF LOVE: 42. AUGMENTED BY FAVOURABLE BLASTS by PHILIP AYRES SILENCE by MAVIS CLARE BARNETT |