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.