 | Poetical Works of Lionel Johnson |  |
AT ETON
To Charles Goodhart.
To have but just that youth once more,
How gladly would I give away
All, the long years may hold in store!
How gladly, for that early day,
Give all, I have! except, may be,
That day's eternal memory.
How gladly would I give away
All, the long years may hold in store!
How gladly, for that early day,
Give all, I have! except, may be,
That day's eternal memory.
The boys, on whom I look, and sigh
To be no more, no more, as they;
Might laugh to learn, that such as I,
Scarce older than themselves, can say
Such wistful things, that best beseem,
Surely, an old man's hopeless dream!
To be no more, no more, as they;
Might laugh to learn, that such as I,
Scarce older than themselves, can say
Such wistful things, that best beseem,
Surely, an old man's hopeless dream!
239
Old men would understand: they know,
What mighty change, one hour must make;
When to the open world boys go,
And come not back, but turn and take
Their several ways to joy or ruth:
But never a way leads back to youth!
What mighty change, one hour must make;
When to the open world boys go,
And come not back, but turn and take
Their several ways to joy or ruth:
But never a way leads back to youth!
Years hence, your willing feet may find
These Fields beside the royal stream:
And mine will haunt, if fate prove kind,
My Winton Meads, and walk in dream:
But never, as in days of old;
The days of youth! the age of gold!
These Fields beside the royal stream:
And mine will haunt, if fate prove kind,
My Winton Meads, and walk in dream:
But never, as in days of old;
The days of youth! the age of gold!
1889.
| Poetical Works of Lionel Johnson | |