May Youth Not Go A-Glimmering

A rising young starlet, the toast of the chase Hollywood abuzz over each toss of her lace... Now her fingers and lips visibly quiver As she sits in hospice and ceaselessly shivers The surgeon to the stars, from opera to ballet He resurrected voices, pirouettes and even pli'es... His grip now unsteady, his voice a bare whisper Proud knife now exchanged for untrimmed whiskers Skates flashing silver, over ice did she flow A portrait of grace from her head to her toe... Now she wobbles when walking, fearful of falling Her elegance vanished, the sight of her galling May youth not go a-glimmering, may it not die young Preserve it with the power of the pen's mighty tongue