Full fifty merry maids I heard
One summer morn a-singing;
And each was like a joyous bird
With spring-clear not a-ringing.
It was an old-time soldier song
That held their happy voices:
Oh how it’s good to swing along
When youth rejoices!
Then lo! I dreamed long years had gone,
They passed again ungladly.
Their backs were bent, their cheeks were wan,
Their eyes were staring sadly.
Their ranks were thinned by full a score
From death’s remorseless reaping
Their steps were slow, they sang no more,–
Nay, some were weeping.
Dark dream! I saw my maids today
Singing so innocently;
Their eyes with happiness were gay,
They looked at me so gently.
Thought I: Be merry in your youth
With hearts unrueing:
Thank God you do not know the truth
Of Life’s Undoing!
(Robert William Service)
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Based on Topics: Life Poems, Mind Poems, Joy & Excitement Poems, Dreams Poems, Thought & Thinking Poems, Happiness Poems, Truth Poems, Singing PoemsBased on Keywords: remorseless, innocently, a-singing, old-time, undoing, a-ringing, unrueing, spring-clear