One gazed back sadly on his years withdrawn, The glad, fair, hopeful years that never yet Had borne the marks of error or regret; Pure as the page that ne'er was written on, Or cherry blossoms in spring's tender dawn; "Alas," he grieved, "life's page no more is white, Life's blossom now is faded as with blight. The stainless freshness of my youth is gone. And yet the tree's true purpose is not bloom: The white flower withers that the fruit may come: The page lacks meaning till on it is traced The deep-lined word; yea tho by blots defaced If ours be writ with courage and with truth, We need not mourn the unsoiled blank of youth. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE PICTURE (VENUS RECLINING) by EZRA POUND TO MARK ANTHONY IN HEAVEN by WILLIAM CARLOS WILLIAMS ON THE RHINE by WILLIAM LISLE BOWLES THE SONG OF THE PILGRIMS by RUPERT BROOKE I SIT AND SEW by ALICE RUTH MOORE DUNBAR-NELSON THE LONG WHITE SEAM by JEAN INGELOW COMPOSED BY THE SEA-SIDE NEAR CALAIS [AUGUST 1802] by WILLIAM WORDSWORTH |