AS when into the garden paths by night One bears a lamp, and with its sickly glare Scatters the burnished flowers a-dreaming there, Palely they show like spectres in his sight, Lovely no more, disfurnished of delight, Some folded up and drooping o'er the way, Their odours spent, their colour changed to gray, Some that stood queen-like in the morning light Fallen discrowned: so the low-burning loves That tremble in the hearts of aged men Cast their own light upon the world that moves Around them, and receive it back again. Old joys seem dead, old faces without joys; Laughter is dead. There is no mirth in boys. |