To Youth

Where art thou gone, light-ankled Youth? With wing at either shoulder, And smile that never left thy mouth Until the Hours grew colder: Then somewhat seem'd to whisper near That thou and I must part; I doubted it; I felt no fear, No weight upon the heart. If aught befell it, Love was by And roll'd it off again; So, if there ever was a sigh, 'T was not a sigh of pain. I may not call thee back; but thou Returnest when the hand Of gentle Sleep waves o'er my brow His poppy-crested wand; Then smiling eyes bend over mine, Then lips once press'd invite; But sleep hath given a silent sign, And both, alas! take flight.