Edith Nesbit

Age to Youth

Sunrise is in your eyes, and in your heart
     The hope and bright desire of morn and May.
My eyes are full of shadow, and my part
     Of life is yesterday.

Yet lend my hand your hand, and let us sit
     And see your life unfolding like a scroll,
Rich with illuminated blazon, fit
     For your arm-bearing soul.

My soul bears arms too, but the scroll's rolled tight,
     Yet the one strip of faded brightness shown
Proclaims that when 'twas splendid in the light
     Its blazon matched your own.