Exchanged For Youth

I will count no more those wasted tears as gambled wages spent for all my days in toiled years were worthy of every cent It's sure, not all my dreams came true and love it came and went but for all the trials and all the moods like a staircase it mapped my assent For in wisdom gained abides these three reflection, limitation and experience through alterations I couldn't foresee they crushed or bred resilience Reflection remains the wisest call where limitation magnifies humility experience is the worst of all bitterness can be self-defeating hostility As a child born to a wandering sea I board the ship of pearl and bind myself to reflections plea as ties of error unfurl Before me now is the cost revealed wisdom has taught me many a truth It's sunless crypt has come unsealed and taken in exchange my youth