AGE is calling to me, with his finger long and grim, <br />It is urging me to wander down the dreary lanes with him, <br />It has lined my cheeks with furrows, and has tinged my hair with gray, <br />And is ever whispering to me that I've grown too old to play; <br />But the heart of me keeps saying, 'Let us dance our way along, <br />Let us answer age with laughter, let us drive him off with song.' <br /> <br />Age comes to me saying: 'You are mine forever more, <br />It is vain for you to hunger for the joys you knew of yore. <br />Now the feet of you are weary, and the eyes of you are dim, <br />Come with me, my worn-out brother, come and share my dwelling grim.' <br />But the heart of me keeps saying: 'I will cling to youth for you, <br />I will keep you in the sunshine where the skies are always blue. <br /> <br />'Give to age your cheeks for furrows, let him silver, if he will. <br />The hair about your temples, but I'll keep you youthful still; <br />Let him dull your eyes, if need be, weight your feet with bygone years, <br />But I'll wake you with my singing, when the break of day appears, <br />I will fill your days with laughter, and with roses strew your way, <br />Say to age you do not fear him, while your heart is young and gay.'<br /><br />Edgar Albert Guest<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/answering-age/
