Unlearning

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WHEN I was young my heart was old,
My heart was rich and very wise:
Now all its wisdom has been told
And all its wealth is fairy gold
And all its joy futilities.

My heart would say, when I was young,
"It would be well to grieve no more.
The griefs you sing had all been sung
Before you learned your mother-tongue,
And all your tears been shed before."

When I was young my heart would say:
"What childish things are these you seek?
The piper's price is large to pay
And there will come a reckoning day!"
In this wise way my heart would speak.

But now it cries continually.
It says: "None ever felt as you!
Cast prudence to the winds, and see
How happy I can make you be."
And some of what it says is true.

© Aline Murray Kilmer