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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE OLD MAN'S COMFORTS AND HOW HE GAINED THEM, by ROBERT SOUTHEY Poem Explanation Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: You are old, father william,' the young man cried Last Line: And he hath not forgotten my age. Variant Title(s): Father William Subject(s): Clergy; Comfort; Faith; God; Men; Old Age; Prayer; Youth; Priests; Rabbis; Ministers; Bishops; Belief; Creed | |||
YOU are old, Father William, the young man cried, The few locks that are left you are gray; You are hale, Father William, a hearty old man, Now tell me the reason, I pray. In the days of my youth, Father William replied, I remember'd that youth would fly fast, And abused not my health and my vigour at first, That I never might need them at last. You are old, Father William, the young man cried, And pleasures with youth pass away, And yet you lament not the days that are gone, Now tell me the reason, I pray. In the days of my youth, Father William replied, I remember'd that youth could not last; I thought of the future, whatever I did, That I never might grieve for the past. You are old, Father William, the young man cried, And life must be hastening away; You are cheerful, and love to converse upon death! Now tell me the reason, I pray. I am cheerful, young man, Father William replied; Let the cause thy attention engage; In the days of my youth I remember'd my God! And he hath not forgotten my age. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...UNHOLY SONNET 4 by MARK JARMAN QUIA ABSURDUM by ROBINSON JEFFERS GOING TO THE HORSE FLATS by ROBINSON JEFFERS SONNET TO FORTUNE by LUCY AIKEN JONATHAN EDWARDS IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS by ROBERT LOWELL RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION by MINA LOY BISHOP BRUNO by ROBERT SOUTHEY |
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