The literary remains of the late Willis Gaylord Clark Including the Ollapodiana Papers, the Spirit Of Life, and a selection from his various prose and poetical writings |
 |
[I often think each tottering form] |
 | The literary remains of the late Willis Gaylord Clark |  |
218
[I often think each tottering form]
I often think each tottering form
That limps along in life's decline,
Once bore a heart as young, as warm,
As full of idle thoughts as MINE!
That limps along in life's decline,
Once bore a heart as young, as warm,
As full of idle thoughts as MINE!
And each has had his dream of joy,
His own unequalled, pure romance;
Commencing, when the blushing boy
First thrills at lovely woman's glance.
His own unequalled, pure romance;
Commencing, when the blushing boy
First thrills at lovely woman's glance.
And each could tell his tale of youth—
Would think its scenes of love evince
More passion, more unearthly truth,
Than any tale, before or since.
Would think its scenes of love evince
More passion, more unearthly truth,
Than any tale, before or since.
Yes! they could tell of tender lays
At midnight penned, in classic shades,
Of days more bright than modern days—
Of maids more fair than living maids.
At midnight penned, in classic shades,
Of days more bright than modern days—
Of maids more fair than living maids.
219
Of whispers in a willing ear,
Of kisses on a blushing cheek—
Each kiss, each whisper, far too dear
For modern lips to give or speak.
Of kisses on a blushing cheek—
Each kiss, each whisper, far too dear
For modern lips to give or speak.
Of prospects, too, untimely crossed,
Of passion slighted or betrayed—
Of kindred spirits early lost,
And buds that blossomed but to fade.
Of passion slighted or betrayed—
Of kindred spirits early lost,
And buds that blossomed but to fade.
Of beaming eyes, and tresses gay,
Elastic form and noble brow,
And charms—that all have passed away,
And left them—what we see them now!
Elastic form and noble brow,
And charms—that all have passed away,
And left them—what we see them now!
And is it thus!—is human love
So very light and frail a thing!
And must Youth's brightest visions move
For ever on Time's restless wing?
So very light and frail a thing!
And must Youth's brightest visions move
For ever on Time's restless wing?
Must all the eyes that still are bright,
And all the lips that talk of bliss,
And all the forms so fair to sight,
Hereafter only come to this?
And all the lips that talk of bliss,
And all the forms so fair to sight,
Hereafter only come to this?
Then what are Love's best visions worth,
If we at length must lose them thus?
If all we value most on earth,
Ere long must fade away from us?
If we at length must lose them thus?
If all we value most on earth,
Ere long must fade away from us?
If that one being whom we take
From all the world, and still recur
To all she said, and for her sake
Feel far from joy, when far from her.
From all the world, and still recur
To all she said, and for her sake
Feel far from joy, when far from her.
If that one form which we adore,
From youth to age, in bliss or pain,
Soon withers and is seen no more—
Why do we love—if love be vain?
From youth to age, in bliss or pain,
Soon withers and is seen no more—
Why do we love—if love be vain?
| The literary remains of the late Willis Gaylord Clark | |