WHAT graven words shall mark as mine This milestone of a year? What prayer shall be the worthy sign Of all I hope and fear? Not greed for gold -- I'm growing old; Burdens I dare no more uphold; Nor deem I meet for weary feet The dust and struggle of the street. Then shall I wish for utter peace? For light with calm around? For all the stir of life to cease In apathy profound? Ah! no, too long I've warred with wrong; I've loved the clash of battle-song; For me, to drone in ease alone Were heavier than a churchyard stone. And fame? Alas! it comes too late, Or, coming, flies too soon; It dawns, as o'er the meadow-gate, Peers up the yellow moon; It glows in power One feverish hour, Then passes like a perish'd flower; Or sets, to rise in alien skies, And cheat me of my lawful prize. Why, then, my New Year's wish shall be For love, and love alone; More hands to hold out joy to me, More hearts for me to own; And if the gain In part be pain, -- Since time but gives to take again, -- Yet more than gold a thousandfold Is love that's neither bought nor sold. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ON A PORTRAIT OF WORDSWORTH BY B.R. HAYDON by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING A TRUE HYMN [HYMNE] by GEORGE HERBERT THE SWAMP FOX by WILLIAM GILMORE SIMMS DISCIPLINE by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH EPITAPH ON FRANCIS CHARTRES by JOHN ARBUTHNOT |