Ode 232

A GRIEVOUS folly shames my sixtieth year—

My white head is in love with a green maid;

I kept my heart a secret, but at last

I am betrayed.

Like a mere child I walked into the snare;

My foolish heart followed my foolish eyes;

And yet, when I was young—in ages past—

I was so wise.

If only she who can such wonders do

Could from my cheeks time's calumny erase,

And change the colour of my snow-whitelocks—

Give a young face

To my young heart, and make my old eyes new,

Bidding my outside tell the inward truth!

O 't is a shallow wit wherewith time mocks

An old man's youth!

Ah! it was always so with us who sing!

Children of fancy, we are in the power

Of any dream, and at the bidding we

Of a mere flower;

Yet HAFIZ, though full many a foolish thing

Ensnared thy heart with wonder, never thou

Wert wont imagination's slave to be

As thou art now.