Had you been old I might be reconciled
To see you gathered to the silent wild,
Were your days darkened, weary, shattered, told,
Had life with disillusion been defiled,
And grief poured on your head its molten gold –
Had you been old –
But you were young: your faith a fire unshaken,
Your hair bright tossed with wind, your breath swift taken
With dear delight of earth, with arms outflung
To joy. Just then, just then to be forsaken
Of breath! To leave the melody unsung,
When you were young!