 | Last poems including Afterglow and Beyond the sunset |  |
33
WHOM THE GODS LOVE
I
“Whom the Gods love die young”? Nay, rather sayWith bated breath, “Whom the Gods love die old!”
Shall the morn pale ere it hath coined its gold?
The sun go down while yet it is full day?
The statue sleep unmoulded in the clay?
The parchment crumble ere it is unrolled?
The story end with half the tale untold?
The song drop mute and breathless by the way?
Oh, weep for Adonais when he dies
With all youth's lofty promise unfulfilled,
Its splendor lost in sudden drear eclipse!
With love unlived and dreams half dreamed he lies,
All the red wine from life's gold chalice spilled
Ere its bright brim hath touched his eager lips!
34
II
Whom the Gods love die old! O life, dear life,Let the old sing thy praises, for they know
How year by year the summers come and go,
Each with its own abounding sweetness rife!
They know, though frosts be cruel as the knife,
Yet with each June the perfect rose shall blow,
And daisies blossom and the green grass grow,
Triumphant still, unvexed by storm or strife.
They know that night more splendid is than day;
That sunset skies flame in the gathering dark,
And the deep waters change to molten gold;
They know that Autumn richer is than May;
They hear the night-birds singing like the lark—
Ah, life, sweet life, whom the Gods love die old!
| Last poems including Afterglow and Beyond the sunset | |