By the Sea, and Other Verses

<h2><SPAN name="ETERNAL_YOUTH" id="ETERNAL_YOUTH">ETERNAL YOUTH</SPAN></h2> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">Looking in thine eyes of azure,<br/></span> <span class="i2">Looking on thy hair of gold,<br/></span> <span class="i0">Once I wished, Evangelina,<br/></span> <span class="i2">That there were no growing old.<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">For I thought of how thy sweet eyes<br/></span> <span class="i2">Would grow dim with tears and care;<br/></span> <span class="i0">How the years would turn to silver<br/></span> <span class="i2">All thy wealth of golden hair.<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">How the lines of life would gather<br/></span> <span class="i2">O'er the face so placid now;<br/></span> <span class="i0">Traces of its toil and struggle<br/></span> <span class="i2">Touching lip and cheek and brow.<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">This I thought, and wished the shadows<br/></span><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</SPAN></span> <span class="i2">Might not lengthen o'er thy way;<br/></span> <span class="i0">Wished there were no time but spring-time,<br/></span> <span class="i2">Were no evening of the day.<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">Now I fear, Evangelina,<br/></span> <span class="i2">That my wish was half a prayer,<br/></span> <span class="i0">That the listening Father heard me,<br/></span> <span class="i2">That thou liest, an answer, there.<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">For thou liest in thy beauty,&mdash;<br/></span> <span class="i2">Eyes of blue and hair of gold,<br/></span> <span class="i0">Lip and cheek and brow of marble,<br/></span> <span class="i2">Folded fingers, still and cold;&mdash;<br/></span> <span class="i0">O my angel, God hath called thee<br/></span> <span class="i2">Where there is no growing old.<br/></span></div> </div> <hr class="chap" /> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />