O rose, who dares to name thee?
No longer roseate now, nor soft, nor sweet,
But pale, and hard, and dry, as stubblewheat,–
Kept seven years in a drawer, thy titles shame thee. – Elizabeth Barrett Browning

may my heart always be open to little
birds who are the secrets of living
whatever they sing is better than to know
and if men should not hear them men are old

may my mind stroll about hungry
and fearless and thirsty and supple
and even if it – e. e. (Edward Estlin) cummings

When age chills the blood, when our pleasures are past–
For years fleet away with the wings of the dove–
The dearest remembrance will still be the last,
Our sweetest memorial the first kiss of love. – Lord (George Gordon) Byron