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Young and Old


By Charles Kingsley


 

When all the world is young, lad,
And all the trees are green;
And every goose a swan, lad,
And every lass a queen;
Then hey for boot and horse, lad,
And round the world away;
Young blood must have its course, lad,
And every dog his day.

When all the world is old, lad,
And all the trees are brown;
And all the sport is stale, lad,
And all the wheels run down;
Creep home, and take you place there,
The spent and maimed among:
God grant you find one face there,
You loved when all was young.
 

Charles Kingsley (1819-1875) was born in England and at the age of 12 witnessed the Bristol riots. He went on to study at London University, before finishing his studies at Magdalene College, Cambridge. It was there he met, fell in love and later married Fanny Grenfell. In 1842 he read for holy orders, and became curate of Eversley Church in Hampshire in May 1844, a few months after he had married Fanny in January 1844. He went on to help form the Christian Socialist Movement, where he was active both in support and writings. He also was a keen childrens writer; writing The Water Babies in 1862 (from which this poem is taken); for which history will perhaps most fondly remember him.

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