Thomas Wood Stevens

GREEN the buds of Easter,

Warm the winds of May;

Autumn like a feaster

In merry disarray.

But Winter follows, tracks him down,

Winter in his ermine gown.

Youth in scarlet stockings,

Garlands for a crown,

Making mouths and mockings

After Age in brown.

But velvet never stood the rain,

And long’s the road to the Keep o’ Spain.

Love in silken weather

Never yet was slain;

But love must take to leather,

Hie him off again.

For Love must hang, the sheriff saith,

The grizzled, watchful sheriff Death.

………

Morning, night and morrow,

On through life and time—

For all the cares we borrow,

For all the songs we rhyme:

Love and Youth will roister so,

And Age is patient, Death is slow.