Death in Youth

Philip James Bailey (1816–1902)

From “Festus”

FOR to die young is youth’s divinest gift;

To pass from one world fresh into another,

Ere change hath lost the charm of soft regret,

And feel the immortal impulse from within

Which makes the coming life cry always, On!

And follow it while strong, is heaven’s last mercy.

There is a fire-fly in the south, but shines

When on the wing. So is ’t with mind. When once

We rest, we darken. On! saith God to the soul,

As unto the earth for ever. On it goes,

A rejoicing native of the infinite,

As is a bird, of air; an orb, of heaven.