LAMENTATIONS
I
Oh, that my head were waters,
And fountains were mine eyes,
For all thy sons and daughters,
Thou world of sins and sighs!
Oh, that my heart might speak before it breaks and dies!
Oh, that my head were waters,
And fountains were mine eyes,
For all thy sons and daughters,
Thou world of sins and sighs!
Oh, that my heart might speak before it breaks and dies!
Through Youth, through Age, through each
Dead Conscience in its turn,
Wisdom that will not teach,
Folly that will not learn,
Through man and woman, too, my words should pierce and burn.
Dead Conscience in its turn,
Wisdom that will not teach,
Folly that will not learn,
Through man and woman, too, my words should pierce and burn.
Alas for Youth! because
The heart of Youth is old;
It thrills not for a cause,
But, arrogantly cold,
Turns from the fiery summons as a tale twice told.
The heart of Youth is old;
It thrills not for a cause,
But, arrogantly cold,
Turns from the fiery summons as a tale twice told.
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