DESIRE of joy -- how keen, how keen it is! (O, the young heart -- the young heart in its Spring!) There waits adventure on the road of bliss, A challenge in each note the free birds fling; The spur of pride, the urge to climb and kiss -- Desire of joy -- how keen, how keen it is! Desire of tears -- but this is sweet, most sweet. (O, the young heart -- the young heart in its Spring!) That sits a little while at Sorrow's feet And tastes of pain as some forbidden thing; That draught where all things sweet and bitter meet -- Desire of tears -- ah me, but it is sweet! Desire of joy and tears -- ah, gifts of gold! (O, the young heart -- the young heart in its Spring!) Once only are these treasures in our hold, Once only is the rapture and the sting, And then comes peace to tell us we are old -- Desire of joy and tears -- ah, gifts of gold! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE FUTURE LIFE by WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT W'EN I GITS HOME by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR SARRAZINE'S SONG, FR. CHAITIVEL by MARIE DE FRANCE A RECEIPT TO CURE THE VAPOURS by MARY WORTLEY MONTAGU A SPRING CAROL by ADRA CAROLINE BATCHELDER |