The Old Man Dreams Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABAB CDCD EFEF GHGH IJIJ JKJK LJLJ JMJM NONO LJLJ POPO| OH for one hour of youthful joy | A |
| Give back my twentieth spring | B |
| I'd rather laugh a bright haired boy | A |
| Than reign a gray beard king | B |
| - | |
| Off with the spoils of wrinkled age | C |
| Away with Learning's crown | D |
| Tear out life's Wisdom written page | C |
| And dash its trophies down | D |
| - | |
| One moment let my life blood stream | E |
| From boyhood's fount of flame | F |
| Give me one giddy reeling dream | E |
| Of life all love and fame | F |
| - | |
| - | |
| - | |
| My listening angel heard the prayer | G |
| And calmly smiling said | H |
| If I but touch thy silvered hair | G |
| Thy hasty wish hath sped | H |
| - | |
| But is there nothing in thy track | I |
| To bid thee fondly stay | J |
| While the swift seasons hurry back | I |
| To find the wished for day | J |
| - | |
| Ah truest soul of womankind | J |
| Without thee what were life | K |
| One bliss I cannot leave behind | J |
| I'll take my precious wife | K |
| - | |
| The angel took a sapphire pen | L |
| And wrote in rainbow dew | J |
| The man would be a boy again | L |
| And be a husband too | J |
| - | |
| And is there nothing yet unsaid | J |
| Before the change appears | M |
| Remember all their gifts have fled | J |
| With those dissolving years | M |
| - | |
| Why yes for memory would recall | N |
| My fond paternal joys | O |
| I could not bear to leave them all | N |
| I'll take my girl and boys | O |
| - | |
| The smiling angel dropped his pen | L |
| Why this will never do | J |
| The man would be a boy again | L |
| And be a father too | J |
| - | |
| - | |
| - | |
| And so I laughed my laughter woke | P |
| The household with its noise | O |
| And wrote my dream when morning broke | P |
| To please the gray haired boys | O |
Oliver Wendell Holmes
(2)
Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation
About The Old Man Dreams
The Old Man Dreams is a poem by Oliver Wendell Holmes. This page includes the poem text, poet information, related topics, comments, and similar poems.
Write your comment about The Old Man Dreams poem by Oliver Wendell Holmes
Anne Phelan: A wonderful poem with lovely sentiments. We found a hand written copy among my father's papers after he died. It obviously struck a chord with him - particular as he has one daughter and two sons, so that line, indeed the whole poem, seemed to come straight from him... almost like a little message he left behind for us.
Best Poems of Oliver Wendell Holmes