THIRTY years after I began again An old-time passion: And it seemed as fresh as when The first day ventured on: When mutely I would waft her In Love's past fashion Dreams much dwelt upon, Dreams I wished she knew. I went the course through, From Love's fresh-found sensation -- Remembered still so well -- To worn words charged anew, That left no more to tell: Thence to hot hopes and fears, And thence to consummation, And thence to sober years, Markless, and mellow-hued. Firm the whole fabric stood, Or seemed to stand, and sound As it had stood before. But nothing backward climbs, And when I looked around As at the former times, There was Life -- pale and hoar: And slow it said to me, "Twice-over cannot be!" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TO THE VIRGINS, TO MAKE MUCH OF TIME by ROBERT HERRICK MONNA INNOMINATA, A SONNET OF SONNETS: 6 by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI SONGS OF TRAVEL: 46. EVENSONG by ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON DIRGE by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH THE WET WOODS by WILLIAM STANLEY BRAITHWAITE PINE MUSIC by ABBIE FARWELL BROWN |