Classic Poem

The seven first years of life , ( man's break of day)
Gleams of short sense a dawn of thought display,
When fourteen springs have bloom'd his downy cheek,
His soft, and blushful meanings learn to speak ,
From twenty one , proud manhood takes its date,
Yet is not strength compleat, 'till twenty eight :
Thence, to his five and thirtieth , life's gay fire ,
Sparkles, burns loud, and flames, in fierce desire .
At forty two his eyes grave wisdom wear,
And the dark future dims him o'er with care ;
On, to the nine and fortieth , toils increase,
And busy hopes and fears disturb his peace ,
At fifty six cool reason reigns, intire,
Then, life burns steddy , and with temp'rate fire .
But sixty three unbinds the body's strength,
E'er th' unwearied mind has run her length ;
And, when, from seventy , age surveys her last ,
Tir'd, she stops short — and wishes, all were past .