Poems (Foote)/A Greeting

For works with similar titles, see A Greeting.

A GREETING.
YOU 'RE thirty five! You pass to-day
The middle milestone on your way,
  And half of all you mean to do
  Is done, and half your journey through.
Goodbye to youth which cannot stay!

Old Age, whom none may long delay,
Salutes you, much to your dismay;
  You can 't deny, - you know it 's true
         You 're thirty five!

I send to you this roundelay,
May you improve as you grow gray,
Such good luck happens to a few;
  And let me whisper this to you -
  To-day reflect and frankly say
         You 're thirty five!