The Voyage of Life--Youth
Ruffling gold blooms and leaves, hue dimmed by time
A gilded frame holding a slice of life’s history
I’m drawn into the younger man, the vision sublime
Sailing stolidly upstream towards his destiny
A castle in the sky, all ether and phantasm
Drawing him nigh with its ivory flirtation
The possible reap of his boundless enthusiasm
Limited only by blossoming imagination
As he departs, I do wish to share my blessing of age
Hard-won patience and placid perspective
If only to inform him, to act as his sage…
But would it deter him from his futile objective?
A glance as he navigates, back to the angel he calls
Warm reassurance for his doubting mind
Far behind the angel, a modest castle's solid walls
Little does he know, the home he will find
Vainglorious dreams bathe in youthful euphoria
With volcanic demands upon fate and destiny
Unpretentious walls’ comfort to replace phantasmagoria
Brash strivings supplanted by consistent humility
I envy him not, his naive, headstrong trouble
Through pitched battles, my dream castle faded away
So lovely, yet impossible to heal the burst bubble
Such ethereal visions life's truth did betray
5/9/16
For Contest:Within a Gilded Frame
Sponsor: Broken Wings
Inspired by "The Voyage of Life--Youth" One of a series by Thomas Cole.
Copyright © Tom Quigley | Year Posted 2016
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