| Higginson and Bigelow, comps. American Sonnets. 1891. | | | | Immortality | | By Amos Bronson Alcott (1799–1888) |
| | | WELCOME the tribute sometimes Fortune steals | |
| From youth’s exchequer to enrich old age! | |
| What ample pension freely forth she deals, | |
| To gild with glory his gay equipage; | |
| Whilst o’er Time’s track slow roll his chariot wheels, | 5 |
| Then Heaven’s gate enter. He, his heritage | |
| Of Life receiving, breaks the sacred seals— | |
| High privilege, sole given to saint and sage! | |
| Life were but ashes, and one holocaust, | |
| If no fair future welcomed from its goal, | 10 |
| No gate swung open to admit us: lost | |
| Were all companionship, and blank the soul. | |
| Ah! dead to all Life holds and knows its own, | |
| If youth survive not and uphold his throne. | | | | |
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