Sorrow O'Er Youth and Young Love Lost

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When faced with mid-life crisis, some middle-aged men buy a racy, red sports car or try to pick up and date a girl half their age—or even younger—or both. As an aspiring poet, I, however, am relegated to merely writing a Shakespearean sonnet provided below to console myself with.


When I look on my life that's now half-spent,
     I sigh the loss of youth that's forever past,
wishing myself better Fortune's consent,
     love, friends, and wealth with naught to lose or waste, 

but for the mean expense of young love lost;
     despising this, I oft' bemoan the loss
of vestal company's first time the most;
     for matrons offend like mouldering moss,

which, like Time's sure, inexorable march,
     destroys the juvenescence of life's spring
year by year till extinguishing Youth's torch,
     a dead flame for which I am most desiring.

If I could live and love anew once more,
I'd not err this time: and lay a rude whore.

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Robert Lindley

Date: 7/11/2018 9:42:00 AM

GREAT SONNET MY FRIEND. That truth comes from a poet's heart and its gifting may aid others is a blessing! This is a superb sonnet and the last two verses, show regret and one of life's mistakes.One that many a wild young lad has made. A fav , my very talented friend!

Ngoc Nguyen
Date: 7/11/2018 10:01:00 AM

Robert, Thank you again for liking and warmly praising my sonnet! I really appreciate it. As for life's mistakes, I suppose that besides regret all one can do to get something positive out of them is to write at least one good sonnet or two, eh? Ngoc. :-)