Tho' youth may boast the curls that flow, <br />In sunny waves of auburn glow; <br />As graceful on thy hoary head, <br />Has time the robe of honor spread, <br />And there, oh ! softly, softly shed, <br />His wreath of snow! <br /> <br />As frost-work on the trees display'd, <br />When weeping Flora leaves the shade, <br />E'en more than Flora, charms the sight; <br />E'en so thy locks, of purest white, <br />Survive, in age's frost-work bright, <br />Youth's vernal rose decay'd! <br /> <br />To grace the nymph, whose tresses play <br />Light on the sportive breeze of May, <br />Let other bards the garland twine, <br />Where sweets of ev'ry hue combine; <br />Those locks rever'd, that silvery shine, <br />Invite my lay! <br /> <br />Less white the summer-cloud sublime, <br />Less white the winter's fringing rime; <br />Nor do Belinda's lovelier seem, <br />'A poet's blest, immortal theme', <br />Than thine, which wear the moonlight-beam, <br />Of rev'rend time! <br /> <br />Long may the graceful honors smile, <br />Like moss on some declining pile; <br />Oh! much rever'd! may filial care, <br />Around thee, duteous, long repair, <br />Thy joys with tender bliss to share, <br />Thy pains beguile! <br /> <br />Long, long, ye snowy ringlets, wave, <br />Long, long, your much-lov'd beauty save! <br />May bliss your latest ev'ning crown, <br />Disarm life's winter of its frown, <br />And soft, ye hoary hairs, go down, <br />In gladness to the grave! <br /> <br />And, as the parting beams of day, <br />On mountain-snows reflected play; <br />And tints of roseate lustre shed; <br />Thus, on the snow that crowns thy head, <br />May joy, with ev'ning planet, shed <br />His mildest ray!<br /><br />Felicia Dorothea Hemans<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-silver-locks/
