A Man Young and Old

Lyrics

Though nurtured like the sailing moon In beauty's murderous brood She walked awhile and blushed awhile And on my pathway stood Until I thought her body bore A heart of flesh and blood But since I laid a hand thereon And found a heart of stone I have attempted many things And not a thing is done For every hand is lunatic That travels on the moon She smiled and that transfigured me And left me but a lout Maundering here, and maundering there Emptier of thought Than the heavenly circuit of its stars When the moon sails out Like the moon her kindness is If kindness I may call What has no comprehension in't But is the same for all As though my sorrow were a scene Upon a painted wall So like a bit of stone I lie Under a broken tree I could recover if I shrieked My heart's agony To passing bird, but I am dumb From human dignity A mermaid found a swimming lad Picked him for her own Pressed her body to his body Laughed; and plunging down Forgot in cruel happiness That even lovers drown