For there dwelt one, who, in my Boyhood's days,
I loved with a deep passion. Many years
Have sung around me the wild paraphrase
Of life since then; and I've shed bitter tears,
And smiled heart-smiles; known many hopes and fears;
But my Boy-love has stood the test of time,
And ripened like her beauty. The fool leers
At Love's sun mellowing fair Childhood's clime,
Love, beauteous to the Child, to Man becomes sublime.