In Praise of Youth
Reading edition
O delicate youth, thy praises shall be sung While yet my heart is young . . . While Life and I, in search of lovely things, Go out with dancing feet and dreaming eyes, And find wild Folly, with her rainbow wings, Sweeter than all the wisdom of the wise. O delicate Youth, thy praises shall be sung While yet my heart is young . . . Thy whiteness, and thy brightness, and the sweet Flushed softness of thy little restless feet . . . The tossed and sunny tangle of thy hair, Thy swiftness, slimness, shyness, simpleness, That set the old folk sighing for the rare Red rose of Joy thy careless days possess. . . . And when at last, with sad, indifferent face, I walk in narrow pathways patiently; Forgetful of thy beauty, and thy truth, Thy ringing laughter, thy rebellious grace . . . When fair Love turns his face away from me . . . Then, let me die, O delicate sweet Youth!