AND HOW HE GAINED THEM
|
| You are old, Father William the young
man cried, |
| The few locks which are left you are
grey; |
| You are hale, Father William, a hearty
old man, |
Now tell me the reason, I pray.
|
| In the days of my youth, Father William
replied, |
| I remember’d that youth would fly fast, |
| And abused not my health and my vigour
at first, |
That I never might need them at last.
|
| You are old, Father William, the young
man cried, |
| And pleasures with youth pass away; |
| And yet you lament not the days that
are gone, |
Now tell me the reason, I pray.
|
| In the days of my youth, Father William
replied, |
| I remember’d that youth could not last; |
| I thought of the future, whatever I
did, |
That I never might grieve for the past.
|
| You are old, Father William, the young
man cried, |
| And life must be hastening away; |
| You are cheerful, and love to converse
upon death, |
Now tell me the reason, I pray.
|
| I am cheerful, young man, Father
William replied, |
| Let the cause thy attention engage; |
| In the days of my youth I remember’d my
God! |
| And He hath not forgotten my age. |
Westbury, 1799
|
| Robert
Southey |
Classic Poems |
| |
|
[ The Battle of Bleinheim ] [ Gooseberry-Pie ] [ The Old Man's Comforts ] [ The Ebb Tide ] [ The Inchcape Rock ] |
