Love

No! I am not prince Hamlet, nor was meant to be;
Am an attendant lord, one that will do
To sweel a progress, start a scene or two,
Advise the prince; no doubt, an easy tool,
Deferential, glad to be of use,
Politic,cautious, and meticulous;
Full of high sentence, but a bit obtuse;
At times, indeed, almost ridiculous----
Almost, at times, the Fool.

I grow old... I grow old...
I shall wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled.

Shall I part my hair behind? Do I dare to eat a peach?
I shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the
beach.
I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each.

I do not think they will sing to me.

I have seen them riding seaward on the waves
Combing the white hair of the waves blown back
When the wind blows the water white and black.

We have lingered in the chambers on the sea
By sea-girls wreathed with seaweed red and brown
Till human voices wake us, and we drown.

Thomas Stern Eliot