Old Verses

I made a little funeral pyre, And on it laid my youthful rhymes, Those thoughts of innocent desire, Dear foolish words of childhood times.

Poor things they were, misspelt and crude, Yet void of guile or vain pretence, They seemed like children thin and nude, And unashamed through innocence.

And so, the while I struck the light That should consume their humble bier I kissed them, and as funeral rite I mingled with the flame a tear.