See sad deluded love, in years too late, <br />With tears desponding o'er the tomb of fate, <br />While dusky evening's veil excludes the light <br />Which in the morning broke upon his sight. <br />He now regrets his vain, his fruitless plan, <br />And sadly wonders at the faults of man. <br />'Tis now from beauty's torch he wheels aside, <br />And strives to soar above affection's tide; <br />'Tis now that sorrow feeds the worm of pain <br />With tears which never can the loss regain; <br />'Tis now he drinks the wormwood and the gall, <br />And all the sweets of early pleasures pall, <br />When from his breast the hope of fortune flies, <br />The songs of transport languish into sighs; <br />Fond, lovely rose, that beamed as she blew, <br />Of all the charms of youth the most untrue, <br />She, with delusive smiles, prevail'd to move <br />This silly heart into the snare of love; <br />Then like a flower closed against the bee, <br />Folds her arms and turns her back on me. <br />When on my fancy's eye her smiles she shed, <br />The torch by which deluded love was led, <br />Then, like a lark, from boyhood's maze I soar'd, <br />And thus in song her flattering smiles adored. <br />My heart was then by fondling love betray'd, <br />A thousand pleasures bloom'd but soon to fade, <br />From joy to joy my heart exulting flew, <br />In quest of one, though fair, yet far from true.<br /><br />George Moses Horton<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/on-an-old-deluded-suitor/
