 | The Complete Poems and Collected Letters of Adelaide Crapsey |  |
To Anacreon.
On his Age.
What thoughtless, silly nymph was she,
The Lesbian, whose divinity
Of darling charm set worshiping
The heart to love's enrapturing
Sweet service ever dedicate;
But briefest moment would she wait
For the immortal golden ode
To hers and love's dear beauties vow'd,
Then, careless-mocking, took her flight
Because for-sooth the snow of white
Advancing age lay on the brow
Of him who sang. Ah, let her go,
Belov'd Anacreon, nor grieve
To think that therefore he will leave,
Venus' wing'd and laughing boy,
His votary bereft of Joy.
Beguiling girls there many be,
As fair, and wiser far, than she.
They welcome time whose coming brings
The art that deep enlighten'd sings
More perfectly their blandishments.
The fine-discerning eye resents
Not signs of wisdom throned secure,
For youth was never connoisseur
And added years do but improve
The heart that's warmed by wine and love.
The Lesbian, whose divinity
Of darling charm set worshiping
The heart to love's enrapturing
Sweet service ever dedicate;
But briefest moment would she wait
For the immortal golden ode
To hers and love's dear beauties vow'd,
Then, careless-mocking, took her flight
Because for-sooth the snow of white
131
Of him who sang. Ah, let her go,
Belov'd Anacreon, nor grieve
To think that therefore he will leave,
Venus' wing'd and laughing boy,
His votary bereft of Joy.
Beguiling girls there many be,
As fair, and wiser far, than she.
They welcome time whose coming brings
The art that deep enlighten'd sings
More perfectly their blandishments.
The fine-discerning eye resents
Not signs of wisdom throned secure,
For youth was never connoisseur
And added years do but improve
The heart that's warmed by wine and love.
Bewail not then the coronal
Of snowy age and venerable
That binds your brow with shining band.
For him whose song-inspired hand
Strikes tunefully the eternal lyre
Of vibrant flaming-stringed desire,
The day of bliss is never over;
He is forever ardent lover.
Of snowy age and venerable
That binds your brow with shining band.
For him whose song-inspired hand
Strikes tunefully the eternal lyre
Of vibrant flaming-stringed desire,
The day of bliss is never over;
He is forever ardent lover.
| The Complete Poems and Collected Letters of Adelaide Crapsey | |