Retrospect reveals the sequence right;
No man in youth knows yet his coming course,
In old age which knows now what it did not,
And could not know without those years, perforce.
The young man calls his future down to answer;
Ambitious hope fills full his veins and bones.
His hope may not be vanity, but held to,
It may conquer fortresses and thrones.
This wisdom is learned early in a few
Who need no wrinkles to discern their steps.
If hope and coming change are held to standards,
The youth who held his faith took hold, and leapt.
I will not say where daring hope may find me,
But I'll allow no weights to drag behind me.
postscript
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