Youth, the Fleeting Spring of Early Life

My autumn approaches; with summer's end, the burning embers of my aging dotage, now sovereign, dominate and portend the fading of Youth with my graying image. How now, dear Lord, do I live, thrive, prevail, succeed, and flourish in life's waning hours? When fresh and young as the dew, all is well; without a care in the world, the flowers of our adolescence seem for ever! But, with time, comes old age and senescence, loss of strength and health and hale--to never return but through rebirth and renascence. So, waste not on me any tears of pity; for my hope lies now in God's Indemnity.