One after one, as dwindling hours,

Youth’s glowing hopes have dropped away,

And soon may barely leave the gleam

That coldly scores a winter’s day.

I am not young, I am not old;

The flush of morn, the sunset calm,

Paling, and deepening, each to each,

Meet midway with a solemn charm.

One side I see the summer fields,

Not yet disrobed of all their green;