| Matthew Arnold (1822–88). The Poems of Matthew Arnold, 1840–1867. 1909. | | | | New Poems, 1867 | | Youth and Calm |
| | [First published in this form 1867.] 1
’TIS death! and 2 peace, indeed, is here, | |
| And ease from shame, and rest from fear. | |
| There’s 3 nothing can dismarble now | |
| The smoothness of that limpid brow. | |
| But 4 is a calm like this, in truth, | 5 |
| The crowning end of life and youth, | |
| And when this boon rewards the dead, | |
| Are all debts paid, has all been said? | |
| And is the heart of youth so light, | |
| Its step so firm, its eye so bright, | 10 |
| Because on its hot brow there blows | |
| A wind of promise and repose | |
| From the far grave, to which it goes; | |
| Because it has the hope to come, | |
| One day, to harbour in the tomb? | 15 |
| Ah no, the bliss youth dreams is one | |
| For daylight, for the cheerful sun, | |
| For feeling nerves and living breath— | |
| Youth dreams a bliss on this side death! | |
| It dreams a rest, if not more deep, | 20 |
| More grateful than this marble sleep. | |
| It hears a voice within it tell: | |
| Calm’s not life’s crown, though calm is well. | |
| ’Tis all perhaps which man acquires, | |
| But ’tis not what our youth desires. | 25 |
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