Landor read by Classic Poetry Aloud:

http://www.classicpoetryaloud.com/

Giving voice to the poetry of the past.

---------------------------------------------

The One White Hair

by Walter Savage Landor (1775 – 1864)

The wisest of the wise

Listen to pretty lies

And love to hear'em told.

Doubt not that Solomon

Listened to many a one, -

Some in his youth, and more when he grew old.

I never was among

The choir of Wisdom's song,

But pretty lies loved I

As much as any king,

When youth was on the wing,

And (must it then be told?) when youth had quite gone by.

Alas! and I have not

The pleasant hour forgot

When one pert lady said,

"O Walter! I am quite

Bewildered with affright!

I see (sit quiet now) a white hair on your head!"

Another more benign

Snipped it away from mine,

And in her own dark hair

Pretended it was found …

She leaped, and twirled it round …

Fair as she was, she never was so fair!