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Writ in response to Sir John Packington’s “In Youth is Joy” and performed, to the great amusement of Queen Elizabeth’s Ladies, at the Novato Blackpoint Forest Renaissance Faire.

Offered here today for WP’s Edward Ortiz, with whom the poet has just enjoyed a spirited exchange of commentary celebrating the true beauties which attend maturity and wisdom.

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Recorded Reading (1:13): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/kzildlt0jmxtul313putn/The-Joy-of-Youth.mp3?rlkey=0svuklniurqvwfnxg4qrsco7p&dl=0

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The Joy of Youth

In youth is joy, but age doth wrong redress,
For which youth hath its every joy to thank —
On age’s face doth nature lines impress
Harmon’ious lines! Youth’s visage is a blank

Wild youth doth all its energies abate
In prancing, stallion-like, about the field —
It’s elder is content to rest and wait
And see what bounties patience’ fruits will yield

In love, our youths impassioned often be
And think that none their elder understand —
They would be startled youths could they but see
A woman under well exper’ienced hand!

Well may’st it strut, well may’st it preen and prance
The chiefest joy of youth — is ignorance!

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Until removal of the stalker/targeter/vandal/arsonist following her allows her to approach any landlord ~ even for a private parking space ~ and to begin once again to create professional connections and to rebuild her life, this poet presently lives homeless and at a fraction of her nation’s poverty level ~ still working seven days a week to contribute to her society, however.

Arts patrons may visit http://www.UgiftABLE.com , using code #72D-31S, or choose to send a personal check to the poet’s ABLE account. It takes about two weeks for the poet to be notified of your patronage.

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