Wasted Treasures

Oh, I once had a smile, and it flickered
And flashed o'er my shadowy way.
But I needed it not, and I cast it a-free,
That it seek on a path of its choosing.
Oh, I once had a song, and it throbbed,
And it burned, and mounted and sunk in its joy;
But I needed it not, and I cast it
To seek on its choosing away.
Oh, I once had a love, and it clung me,
And wrapped me and fondled me o'er;
But I needed it not, and I cast it
With folly-tipped fingers away.
Oh, I once had a joy, and it thrilled me.
It set my dead heart atune;
And it bounded, and danced like a tempest of smiles.
But I needed it not, and cast it
Like chaff to my folly-some path.
Oh, the treasure life's purse had allotted,
I spended them all freesome, nor caring
For woe, nor loneliness-Sorrow's own brother,
That soft footed my pathway unknown.
And I found that the purse was all empty,
Spent was the store; and I turned back the path
To pluck up again what I'd cast-
The broken, the woeful and sad.
I found there my smile, all trodden,
The crown on a felled daisy's head;
And my joy? Why the brook it had stole it!
And my love had gone down the way.
Ah then, I shall gather my spending
Of broken dear treasures again,
And weave me a new day of gladness-
All of breaked folly-casting of youth.