|
|
Classic and Contemporary Poetry
GROWING GRAY, by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: A little more toward the light Last Line: Belief with wishes. Alternate Author Name(s): Dobson, Austin Subject(s): Aging; Life | |||
A little more toward the light. Me miserum. Here's one that's white, And one that's turning; Adieu to song and "salad days." My Muse, let's go at once to Jay's And order mourning. We must reform our rhymes, my dear, Renounce the gay for the severe,-- Be grave, not witty; We have no more the right to find That Pyrrha's hair is neatly twined, That Chloe's pretty. Young Love's for us a farce that's played; Light canzonet and serenade No more may tempt us; Gray hairs but in accord with dreams; From aught but sour didactic themes Our years exempt us. "A la bonne heure!" You fancy so? You think for one white streak we grow At once satiric? A fiddlestick! Each hair's a string To which our graybeard Muse shall sing A younger lyric. Our heart's still sound. Shall "cakes and ale" Grow rare to youth because we rail At school-boy dishes? Perish the thought! 'T is ours to sing, Though neither Time nor Tide can bring Belief with wishes. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...PRIVILEGE OF BEING by ROBERT HASS SEAWATER STIFFENS CLOTH by JANE HIRSHFIELD |
| |