And what of old age without memories, The only wealth life leaves us at the end? Who would exchange remembered ecstasies, A bough of comets, for the cold gray blend Of comfort and immunity's dry laurel? Better the acrid embers than no fire; Better the bloodthirsty steel of a quarrel Severing the thundered veins, than no desire. Only the coward heart refuses love; Afraid to suffer, bars its cautious door; Crouched by its bare hearth fondles the tame dove Of peace, unheeding -- till love knocks no more. @3Then shall silence fall like stone on the mind And time stand still, and the last frail hope go blind.@1 | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE LOVER PLEADS WITH HIS FRIENDS FOR OLD FRIENDS by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS MY AIN WIFE by ALEXANDER LAING SONNET: 151 by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE THE YOUNG GRAY HEAD by CAROLINE ANNE BOWLES SOUTHEY RUMORS FROM AN AEOLIAN HARP by HENRY DAVID THOREAU THE COMPLAINT OF THE FAIR ARMOURESS by FRANCOIS VILLON THE LOVE SONNETS OF PROTEUS: 40. FAREWELL TO JULIET (2) by WILFRID SCAWEN BLUNT |