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Poem
March 20, 1811
Alexandria Daily Gazette, Commercial & Political
Alexandria, Virginia
What is this article about?
The poem 'Early Life' meditates on the joyful and innocent beginnings of human life, likening youth to a sprightly race under morning sun, filled with fair ideas, love, and vernal sighs, before the inevitable ascent of time's hill brings an end to that prime.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
MORALITY, SWEETNESS and SIMPLICITY
are beautifully blended in the following fragment.
EARLY LIFE.
How gaily is, at first begun,
Our lives' uncertain race!
While that same sprightly morning sun,
With which we first set out to run,
Enlightens all the place!
How fair the first Ideas move,
That wander in our mind!
How full the joy, how fair the love,
Which does that early season move,
Like flowers the western wind!
Our sighs are then but vernal air,
But April drops our tears;
Which, swiftly passing, all grows fair,
While beauty compensates our care,
And youth each vapour clears.
But Ah; too soon alas! we climb.
Scarce feeling we ascend,
The gently rising hill of time;
From whence, with grief, we view that prime,
And all its sweetness end.
are beautifully blended in the following fragment.
EARLY LIFE.
How gaily is, at first begun,
Our lives' uncertain race!
While that same sprightly morning sun,
With which we first set out to run,
Enlightens all the place!
How fair the first Ideas move,
That wander in our mind!
How full the joy, how fair the love,
Which does that early season move,
Like flowers the western wind!
Our sighs are then but vernal air,
But April drops our tears;
Which, swiftly passing, all grows fair,
While beauty compensates our care,
And youth each vapour clears.
But Ah; too soon alas! we climb.
Scarce feeling we ascend,
The gently rising hill of time;
From whence, with grief, we view that prime,
And all its sweetness end.
What sub-type of article is it?
Ode
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Nature Seasons
What keywords are associated?
Early Life
Youth Joy
Passage Time
Vernal Air
Hill Of Time
Moral Reflection
Poem Details
Title
Early Life
Form / Style
Rhymed Quintains
Key Lines
How Gaily Is, At First Begun,
Our Lives' Uncertain Race!
While That Same Sprightly Morning Sun,
With Which We First Set Out To Run,
Enlightens All The Place!
But Ah; Too Soon Alas! We Climb.
Scarce Feeling We Ascend,
The Gently Rising Hill Of Time;
From Whence, With Grief, We View That Prime,
And All Its Sweetness End.