 | The Peacock at Home; and Other Poems |  |
97
TO A FRIEND,
WHO ASSERTED THAT LIFE HAD NO PLEASURE AFTER EARLY YOUTH.
Tell me no more, repining Friend,
“That, Youth's gay holiday once past,
“Our false and fleeting pleasures end,
“And life has lost all zest and taste.
“That, Youth's gay holiday once past,
“Our false and fleeting pleasures end,
“And life has lost all zest and taste.
“That when love's bandeau time shall steal,
“The wayward boy will soon take wing,
“While taught by cold neglect we feel,
“That friendship knows no second spring.
“The wayward boy will soon take wing,
“While taught by cold neglect we feel,
“That friendship knows no second spring.
“To sordid selfishness a prey,
“The palsied heart forgets to feel;
“Nor generous impulse can obey
“Where cautious age has set his seal.”
“The palsied heart forgets to feel;
98
“Where cautious age has set his seal.”
Hence, cheerless pencil! whose harsh lines
And sombre tints my soul disclaims:
Time mellows friendship, like old wines;
And tempers love's too ardent flames.
And sombre tints my soul disclaims:
Time mellows friendship, like old wines;
And tempers love's too ardent flames.
Why dress in clouds the autumn day?
Because the spring's bright dawn is fled.
Why cast the amaranth away?
Because the vernal rose is shed.
Because the spring's bright dawn is fled.
Why cast the amaranth away?
Because the vernal rose is shed.
Tho' summer's fervent heat is spent,
Sweet is the evening hour of reason,
The time to gather in content,
The wholesome fruit of every season.
Sweet is the evening hour of reason,
The time to gather in content,
The wholesome fruit of every season.
| The Peacock at Home; and Other Poems | |