OH for the morning gleam of youth, the half-unfolded flower That sparkles in the diamond dew of that serener hour, What time the broad and level sun shone gaily o'er the sea, And in the woods the birds awoke to songs of ecstacy. The sun, that gilds the middle arch of man's maturer day, Smites heavy on the pilgrim's head, who plods his dusty way; The birds are fled to deeper shades -- the dewy flowers are dried, And hope that with the day was born, before the day has died; For who can promise to his soul a tranquil eventide? Yes -- though the dew will gleam anew -- though from its western sky The sun will give as mild a ray as morning could supply -- Though from her tufted thorn again will sing the nightingale, Yet little will the ear of age enjoy the tender tale; And night will find us toiling on with joyless travail worn, For day must pass, and night must come, before another morn. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SPECIMEN OF AN INDUCTION TO A POEM by JOHN KEATS WALKEN HWOME AT NIGHT by WILLIAM BARNES THE LAST RACE by ERNEST HAROLD BAYNES THE FOREIGNERS: 1 by CARLOS BULOSAN THE WANDERER: 5. IN HOLLAND: KING LIMOS by EDWARD ROBERT BULWER-LYTTON |