Oh, my youth was hot and eager, br And my heart was burning, burning, br And the present joy seemed meagre, br Dwarfed by that perpetual yearning. br br I was always madly asking br Ampler beauty, keener pleasure, br Had not wit enough for basking br In the sunshine, rich with leisure. br br Now with ripeness of October br I have reasoned and reflected. br And I feed my soul, grown sober, br With the crumbs that I rejected.