When Age Comes On.
By James Whitcomb Riley
When Age comes on! -
"The deepening dusk is where the dawn
Once glittered splendid, and the dew
In honey-drips, from red rose-lips
Was kissed away by me and you. -
And now across the frosty lawn
Black foot-prints trail, and Age comes on -
And Age comes on!
And biting wild-winds whistle through
Our tattered hopes - and Age comes on!
When Age comes on! -
O tide of raptures, long withdrawn,
Flow back in summer-floods, and fling
Here at our feet our childhood sweet,
And all the songs we used to sing! . . .
Old loves, old friends - all dead and gone -
Our old faith lost - and Age comes on -
And Age comes on!
Poor hearts! have we not anything
But longings left when Age comes on?