The Old Man Dreams

1854     Oh for one hour of youthful joy!     Give back my twentieth spring!     I'd rather laugh, a bright-haired boy,     Than reign, a gray-beard king.     Off with the spoils of wrinkled age!     Away with Learning's crown!     Tear out life's Wisdom-written page,     And dash its trophies down!     One moment let my life-blood stream     From boyhood's fount of flame!     Give me one giddy, reeling dream     Of life all love and fame.     My listening angel heard the prayer,     And, calmly smiling, said,     "If I but touch thy silvered hair     Thy hasty wish hath sped.     "But is there nothing in thy track,     To bid thee fondly stay,     While the swift seasons hurry back     To find the wished-for day?"     "Ah, truest soul of womankind!     Without thee what were life?     One bliss I cannot leave behind:     I'll take - my - precious - wife!"     The angel took a sapphire pen     And wrote in rainbow dew,     The man would be a boy again,     And be a husband too!     "And is there nothing yet unsaid,     Before the change appears?     Remember, all their gifts have fled     With those dissolving years."     "Why, yes;" for memory would recall     My fond paternal joys;     "I could not bear to leave them all     I'll take - my - girl - and - boys."     The smiling angel dropped his pen, -     "Why, this will never do;     The man would be a boy again,     And be a father too!"     And so I laughed, - my laughter woke     The household with its noise, -     And wrote my dream, when morning broke,     To please the gray-haired boys.