XONCE UPON A TIME
Once upon a time, life lay before me,
Fresh as a story untold;
Now so many years have traveled o'er me,
I and my story are old.
Fresh as a story untold;
Now so many years have traveled o'er me,
I and my story are old.
Once upon a time my locks fell flowing,
Brown as yours and as bright;
Now so many winters coming and going
Have left them, you see, snow-white.
Brown as yours and as bright;
Now so many winters coming and going
Have left them, you see, snow-white.
Once upon a time I, too, had a lover,
Gallant and full of grace;
Now do you think, dear, you can discover
Him in Grandpapa's face?
Gallant and full of grace;
Now do you think, dear, you can discover
Him in Grandpapa's face?
Once upon a time I thought it living
Only to draw my breath;
Now I've learned that it means a striving
Sometimes even to death.
Only to draw my breath;
Now I've learned that it means a striving
Sometimes even to death.
Once upon a time I fell to weeping
If but my wish was crossed;
Now I can trust to a better keeping,
Even if all seem lost.
If but my wish was crossed;
Now I can trust to a better keeping,
Even if all seem lost.
18
