Earth holds you, though your dreams run far.

Earth Claims you, though you claim a star.

Now in your lusty years forget

Her jealous Claim a while and set

Your young illusion like a stage,

Lovely, unreal, untouched by age,

In some deep wood. of waving green,

Beside a brook of stones washed. clean.

Fantastic paint the scene a blaze

Of color. Spend the flying days

And nights in playing out your dream

With love, perhaps, a white-hot beam

Upon you briefly, like a knife,

The searing glory of a life.

Soon enough the lights burn black,

The colors fade, the earth comes back.

Your feet that glittered once with gems

Are set among the broken stems.

Into the cool black soil push deep

Your roots for strength, for shelter, sleep.

Oh young eyes blinded by the sun,

Earth wants you when your dreams are done.

Let fall your arms. Earth locks your feet,

And you must think of food to eat.