Forgetful thou to manhood's years had'st grown,
Thou knelt'st in Spring upon the grassy sod
To greet the early Flower in fragrance blown,
And own the presence of its Maker, God.
Forgetful? No! but mindful rather thou
Of what true manhood must forever be;
Before each beauteous thing it loves to bow,
With a child's faith, and child's humility;
But, joined with these, a courage too was thine,
In Freedom's cause, boldly to do and dare;
Each worldly honor, for her sake, to resign,
And with her humblest follower all things share;
Nature, with early flower and falling leaf,
Doth mourn a life, like thine, should be so brief!