Youth Gone and Beauty Gone if Ever There - by Christina Rosseti

Youth gone, and beauty gone if ever there 

Dwelt beauty in so poor a face as this; 

Youth gone and beauty, what remains of bliss? 

I will not bind fresh roses in my hair,

To shame a cheek at best but little fair,-- 

Leave youth his roses, who can bear a thorn,-- 

I will not seek for blossoms anywhere, 

Except such common flowers as blow with corn. 

Youth gone and beauty gone, what doth remain? 

The longing of a heart pent up forlorn, 

A silent heart whose silence loves and longs; 

The silence of a heart which sang its songs 

While youth and beauty made a summer morn, 

Silence of love that cannot sing again.