Poetry Archives

The young see heaven—but to the old who wait
   The final call, the hills of youth arise
   More beautiful than shores of Paradise.
Beside a glowing and voracious grate
   A dozing couple dream of yesterday;
The islands of a vanished past appear,
Bringing forgotten names and faces near;
   While lost in mist, the present fades away.
The fragrant winds of tender memories blow
   Across the gardens of the “Used-to-be!”
   They smile into each other’s eyes, and see
The bride and bridegroom of the long ago.
   And tremulous lips, pressed close to faded cheek
   Love’s silent tale of deathless passion speak.