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| WE have left our youth behind: | |
| Earth is in its baby years: | |
| Void of wisdom cries the wind, | |
| And the sunlight knows no tears. | |
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| When shall twilight feel the awe, | 5 |
| All the rapt thought of the sage, | |
| And the lips of wind give law | |
| Drawn from out their lore of age? | |
| |
| When shall earth begin to burn | |
| With such love as thrills my breast? | 10 |
| When shall we together turn | |
| To our long, long home for rest? | |
| |
| Child and father, we grow old | |
| While you laugh and play with flowers; | |
| And life’s tale for us is told | 15 |
| Holding only empty hours. | |
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| Giant child, on you await | |
| All the hopes and fears of men. | |
| In thy fulness is our fate— | |
| What till then, oh, what till then? | 20 |
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