Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900.
By Beatrix DemarestLloyd1691 Love and Time
A
A strange, ill-mated pair;
By paths where naught but blossoms blow,
But paths neglected where gaunt weeds grow,
But hand in hand, through joy, through care,
Across the gardens of Life they go.
His eyes stare off, like one in dreams;
Across his breast his white locks stray;
The sands in his glass fall day by day;
Over his shoulder his scythe-blade gleams,—
And he is old, and grim, and gray.
The golden curls about his head
Shine as a halo; his red lips dare
The birds in song; he knows no care,
Joy in his heart is never dead,—
He lives to love and he is fair.
And Love on earth cannot grow old;
And yet, since first to that hand he clung—
Since first his tender song he sung,
Since first his love-tale had he told,
And to a dart his bow had strung—
Though one is old and one is fair,
By Paths where naught but blossoms blow,
By paths neglected where gaunt weeds grow,
Together, a strange, ill-mated pair,
Across the gardens of Life they go.