 | The select poems of Dr. Thomas Dunn English (exclusive of the "Battle lyrics") |  |
655
NOW I AM OLD.
The silver threads are in my locks,
The wrinkles deepen in my face;
Time deals me here its hardest knocks,
And three-score years come on apace.
I wonder much at Flitroffe's stride—
Two miles upon my muscles tell;
A fact to mortify the pride
Of one who one time walked so well.
Feeble and friendless, lacking gold,
I wander dreamily and sad,
And yet I should be rather glad
That I am old.
The wrinkles deepen in my face;
Time deals me here its hardest knocks,
And three-score years come on apace.
I wonder much at Flitroffe's stride—
Two miles upon my muscles tell;
A fact to mortify the pride
Of one who one time walked so well.
Feeble and friendless, lacking gold,
I wander dreamily and sad,
And yet I should be rather glad
That I am old.
For many troubles now I miss,
And many dangerous pleasures, too;
No longer now delusive bliss
In youthful pleasures I pursue.
No longer now do fond mammas
To me their daughters' merits show;
To ocean beaches, mountain spas,
No longer I am forced to go.
By sudden feeling rendered bold,
Maidens no more make eyes at me,
For well the laughing darlings see
That I am old.
And many dangerous pleasures, too;
No longer now delusive bliss
In youthful pleasures I pursue.
No longer now do fond mammas
To me their daughters' merits show;
To ocean beaches, mountain spas,
No longer I am forced to go.
By sudden feeling rendered bold,
Maidens no more make eyes at me,
For well the laughing darlings see
That I am old.
No longer now with purpose rash
New enterprises I essay,
That merely end in loss of cash—
Those follies of a former day.
And now Nevada's silver mines,
Or Erie's fall and Central's rise,
Or lots upon improvement lines,
Have no attraction in my eyes.
My growing years have made me cold;
I ponder long ere I engage;
For caution best comports with age,
And I am old.
New enterprises I essay,
That merely end in loss of cash—
Those follies of a former day.
And now Nevada's silver mines,
Or Erie's fall and Central's rise,
656
Have no attraction in my eyes.
My growing years have made me cold;
I ponder long ere I engage;
For caution best comports with age,
And I am old.
No more they ask me out, the boys,
To frolics lasting half the night,
Where drinking deeply breeds a noise,
And maudlin friendship ends in fight.
At home I take my quiet glass,
My wife and children sitting near;
I let all fiery liquors pass,
Contented with my simple beer.
Oft of the revels I am told,
But not of headaches that remain;
I care not for their joy and pain,
For I am old.
To frolics lasting half the night,
Where drinking deeply breeds a noise,
And maudlin friendship ends in fight.
At home I take my quiet glass,
My wife and children sitting near;
I let all fiery liquors pass,
Contented with my simple beer.
Oft of the revels I am told,
But not of headaches that remain;
I care not for their joy and pain,
For I am old.
The politicians of the place
The gaping crowd electioneer,
And scatter, with unblushing face,
Smiles, bribes, and falsehood far and near.
I care not who are in or out,
If one shall win, another lose;
Let knaves intrigue and noodles shout,
The devil will some day get his dues.
No plans to me they need unfold—
'Tis hard to teach old dogs new tricks,
And so I laugh at politics,
Now I am old.
The gaping crowd electioneer,
And scatter, with unblushing face,
Smiles, bribes, and falsehood far and near.
I care not who are in or out,
If one shall win, another lose;
Let knaves intrigue and noodles shout,
The devil will some day get his dues.
No plans to me they need unfold—
'Tis hard to teach old dogs new tricks,
And so I laugh at politics,
Now I am old.
Welcome the wrinkles; hail the grey
That streaks the hair and tints the beard;
To death these indicate the way—
Death to be neither shunned nor feared.
I've lived a rather stormy life,
Have fought my way for many years,
And welcome respite from the strife
That shook me oft with hopes and fears.
He rests in peace who sleeps in mould;
And glad am I that to such rest
My tottering footsteps are addressed,
Now I am old.
That streaks the hair and tints the beard;
657
Death to be neither shunned nor feared.
I've lived a rather stormy life,
Have fought my way for many years,
And welcome respite from the strife
That shook me oft with hopes and fears.
He rests in peace who sleeps in mould;
And glad am I that to such rest
My tottering footsteps are addressed,
Now I am old.
| The select poems of Dr. Thomas Dunn English (exclusive of the "Battle lyrics") | |