NOT SOUR GRAPES

By Richard Le Gallienne

I'm not sorry I am older, love — are you?

Over all youth's fuss and flurry,

All its everlasting hurry,

All its solemn self-importance and to-do.

Perhaps we missed the highest reaches of high art;

Love we missed not, and the laughter,

Seeing both before and after —

Life was such a serious business at the start!

We've lost nothing worth the keeping — do you think?

You are just as slim and elfish,

And I've grown a world less selfish;

We look back on life together — and we wink.

Over all those old misgivings of the heart,

Growing pains of love and lover;

Life's fun begins, its fevers over —

Life was such a serious business at the start!

Garners full, life's grain and chaff we have sifted;

Youth went by in idle tasting,

Now we drink the cup, unhasting,

Spill not a drop, brimful and high uplifted;

And we watch now, calm and fearless, the years depart,

Knowing nothing can now sever

Two that life made one forever —

Life was such a serious business at the start!