Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ELD TO YOUTH, by EMILY HENRIETTA HICKEY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ELD TO YOUTH, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Would I exchange
Last Line: And the lord alone?)
Subject(s): Youth


WOULD I exchange
With you, my sweet,
For the clear eyes' range,
And the rapid feet,
And the heart's high beat;

The white brow smooth,
The cheek's warm rose,
The lips of youth,
And the lovely glows
That morning knows?

Exchange for these
The furrowed brow,
And the feeble knees,
And the hair's thin snow,
And the voice brought low;

The eyes' eclipse,
And the hand that shakes;
The shaming slips
That memory makes;
And the sevenfold aches?

Not I, not I,
O young, O fair!
Who am standing nigh
To the river where
The soul strips bare.

But I may not speak
To tell you why,
O smooth of cheek,
O bright of eye,
Till the day I die.

(Have you not heard
Of the fair white stone,
With its written word
By one soul known,
And the Lord alone?)





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