LAUGH on, fair Cousins, for to you All life is joyous yet; Your hearts have all things to pursue, And nothing to regret; And every flower to you is fair, And every month is May: You've not been introduced to Care,-- Laugh on, laugh on to-day! Old Time will fling his clouds ere long Upon those sunny eyes; The voice whose every word is song Will set itself to sighs; Your quiet slumbers,--hopes and fears Will chase their rest away: To-morrow you'll be shedding tears,-- Laugh on, laugh on to-day. Oh yes, if any truth is found In the dull schoolman's theme, If friendship is an empty sound And love an idle dream, If mirth, youth's playmate, feels fatigue Too soon on life's long way, At least he'll run with you a league;-- Laugh on, laugh on to-day! Perhaps your eyes may grow more bright As childhood's hues depart; You may be lovelier to the sight And dearer to the heart; You may be sinless still, and see This earth still green and gay; But what you are you will not be: Laugh on, laugh on to-day! O'er me have many winters crept With less of grief than joy; But I have learned, and toiled, and wept; I am no more a boy! I've never had the gout, 'tis true; My hair is hardly grey; But now I cannot laugh like you: Laugh on, laugh on to-day! I used to have as glad a face, As shadowless a brow; I once could run as blithe a race As you are running now; But never mind how I behave! Don't interrupt your play; And though I look so very grave, Laugh on, laugh on to-day! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...HOW THE GREAT GUEST CAME by EDWIN MARKHAM THE TESTAMENT OF CRESSEID by ROBERT HENRYSON THE HAPPY LIFE OF A COUNTRY PARSON by ALEXANDER POPE STILL FALLS THE RAIN; THE RAIDS, 1940. NIGHT AND DAWN by EDITH SITWELL ROBERT BURNS by WILLIAM ALEXANDER (1567-1640) |