Desire of joy--how keen, how keen it is!
(Oh, the young heart--the young heart in its Spring!)
There waits adventure on the road of bliss--
A challenge in each note the free birds fling;
The spur of pride to dare us climb and kiss--
Desire of joy--how keen, how keen it is!
Desire of tears--but this is sweet, most sweet!
(Oh, the young heart--the young heart in its Spring!)
That sits a little while at Sorrow's feet
And tastes of pain as some forbidden thing,
That draught where all things sweet and bitter meet--
Desire of tears--ah me, but it is sweet!
Desire of joy and tears--ah, gifts of gold!
(Oh, the young heart--the young heart in its Spring!)
Once only are these treasures in our hold,
Once only is the rapture and the sting,
And then comes peace--to tell us we are old--
Desire of joy and tears--ah, gifts of gold!