Poems (Denver)/Youth

by Mary Caroline Denver

YOUTH.

Youth! glorious youth! how deeply blue the skies.
 How green the earth where'er thou art to thee!
A halo round thy brow Time's hate defies,
 Ever a rainbow's promise cheers thy heart.
Cool are thy streams—melodious are thy numbers;
 Thy smile speaks of the heart's undying truth;
Troops of bright angels guard thy nightly slumbers,
When weariness the drooping soul encumbers,—
 Oh, rare and radiant youth!

Give from thy bower some amaranthine blossom,
 Whose fadeless leaves will bloom around my brow,
When dreary time hath stolen from my bosom
 All the glad hopes that sing within it now;
Give me an eye that sees a heart that heareth
 The generous language from the lips of truth;
One that no doubt dismays, that no harm feareth,
And even in storms a summer-garment weareth,—
 Oh, brave and trustful youth!

Thou speakest from the heart, blessed spirit!
 Thou speakest from a warm, impulsive heart:
No evil do thy flowery realms inherit,
 To sow doubts there, for beautiful thou art:
Thy home is by blue streams that wander ever
 Through forest-depths that bound thy green domain,
While the deep music of a far-off river
Falls on the ear, whose distant echo never
 Will leave the heart again.

Sweet is the song of birds within thy bowers;
 Georgeous and rich the plumage of their wings;
Rare is the beauty of thy countless flowers.
 Whose sweet perfume unto the charmed air clings.
Thy green leaves quiver when the breezes wander
 In graceful indolence from tree to tree,
Whispering in language musical and tender.
Of distant loiterings through scenes of splendor,
 To hearts that worship thee.

Leave me some token, when thou hast departed,
 Leave me some trait that may resemble thee!
I would not careless be, nor worldly-hearted,
 But trusting as young childhood's purity.
Leave me, generous spirit! leave some token
 Upon my heart, of thy unchanging truth;
Leave me the memory of kind words spoken.
Of faithful hearts, and promises unbroken,
 O, blessed, blessed youth!