Pike County Ballads and Other Poems

STUDENT-SONG.

  When Youth's warm heart beats high, my friend,
    And Youth's blue sky is bright,
  And shines in Youth's clear eye, my friend,
    Love's early dawning light,
  Let the free soul spurn care's control,
    And while the glad days shine,
  We'll use their beams for Youth's gay dreams
    Of Love and Song and Wine.

  Let not the bigot's frown, my friend,
    O'ercast thy brow with gloom,
  For Autumn's sober brown, my friend,
    Shall follow Summer's bloom.
  Let smiles and sighs and loving eyes
    In changeful beauty shine,
  And shed their beams on Youth's gay dreams
    Of Love and Song and Wine.

  For in the weary years, my friend,
    That stretched before us lie,
  There'll be enough of tears, my friend,
    To dim the brightest eye.
  So let them wait, and laugh at fate,
    While Youth's sweet moments shine,—
  Till memory gleams with golden dreams
    Of Love and Song and Wine.