Ronsard, "When you are very old"

Lecture Topics: The passage of time Gather ye rosebuds with lemon

  1     When you are very old, at evening
  2     You'll sit and spin beside the fire, and say,
  3     Humming my songs, 'Ah well, ah well-a-day!
  4     When I was young, of me did Ronsard sing.'
  5     None of your maidens that doth hear the thing,
  6     Albeit with her weary task foredone,
  7     But wakens at my name, and calls you one
  8     Blest, to be held in long remembering.
  9     I shall be low beneath the earth, and laid
 10     On sleep, a phantom in the myrtle shade,
 11     While you beside the fire, a grandame grey,
 12     My love, your pride, remember and regret;
 13     Ah, love me, love! we may be happy yet,
 14     And gather roses, while 'tis called to-day