The Quest Of Youth

Year by year the hills of blue That bounded our homeland nearer drew, One by one the old enchantments Passed away from the paths we knew.

Many a boon the old days brought, Many a joy that we held as nought, Hopes, but never the great fulfilment, Love, but never the love we sought.

Now we must part from home and friend. We have treasures of youth to spend: Braver ventures, fairer maidens Wait for us where the old ways end.

Now for the quest unknown, untried, Now for the path with none to guide. Dawns that glimmer on new horizons, Starlit camps on the mountain side.

For our dreams remain, and the wonders flown From the world that we knew and called our own, Are ours to follow by shores uncharted, Ours to seek in a land unknown;

Dreams that give to the thing life shows, What the sky gives earth, when the evening glows On the lonely hills, and the distant places Blossom in gold and purple and rose.

Spake to us voices of scorn and ruth: “He who follows the dreams of youth, He who seeks for an outworn wonder Flies himself from the whips of truth.”

“For yours is nought but the hunter’s zest;-- Your love but love of the unpossessed. Is the world God filled with the light not fairer Than all the dreams of your soul’s unrest?”

Ah no! the world that God designed He shows us in dreams, but leaves mankind To shape to His plan. The goal He gave, But the path to the goal ’tis ours to find.

No meaner plan than our dream unrolls Can ever again content our souls; The wonder fades from the paths around us, Our faith remains in the unseen goals.

The wonder outlasts, the goals exist; The beauty abides, but the way we missed; And a mile may open the way we looked for A turn may lead to the longed-for tryst.