Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE WATER-BABIES: SONG. YOUNG AND OLD by CHARLES KINGSLEY

First Line: WHEN ALL THE WORLD IS YOUNG, LAD
Last Line: YOU LOVED WHEN ALL WAS YOUNG.
WHEN all the world is young, lad,
And all the trees are green;
And every goose a swan, lad,
And every lass a queen;
Then hey for boot and horse, lad,
And round the world away;
Young blood must have its course, lad,
And every dog his day.
When all the world is old, lad
And all the trees are brown;
And all the sport is stale, lad,
And all the wheels run down:
Creep home, and take your place there,
The spent and maimed among:
God grant you find one face there
You loved when all was young.


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