Youth's Agitations

Matthew Arnold 1822 (Laleham) – 1888 (Liverpool)



When I shall be divorced, some ten years hence,
From this poor present self which I am now;
When youth has done its tedious vain expense
Of passions that for ever ebb and flow;

Shall I not joy youth's heats are left behind,
And breathe more happy in an even clime ?--
Ah no, for then I shall begin to find
A thousand virtues in this hated time!

Then I shall wish its agitations back,
And all its thwarting currents of desire;
Then I shall praise the heat which then I lack,
And call this hurrying fever, generous fire;

And sigh that one thing only has been lent
To youth and age in common--discontent.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

35 sec read
90

Quick analysis:

Scheme AXAX BCBC DEDE FF
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 600
Words 116
Stanzas 4
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4, 2

Matthew Arnold

Matthew Arnold was a British poet and cultural critic who worked as an inspector of schools. more…

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