Youth Was Only One

Youth was only one— Without extras held in store. No extensions to prolong it, It just flickered out before.

Why then only one alone? I would take a dozen pairs. If I stumbled—start once more? Youth repeated—that's what's fair.

All will vanish, none return. One life only, one birth given. Could we change this, could we learn— Satisfy what we have striven.

Since youth's passed beyond recall, Grant me several ages still. No repeating—that's the pall— Young once... then old... against my will.

Life we cannot put away, Stored like treasure in a vault. Cannot buy a single day, Neither wisdom helps, nor gold's assault.

Cannot add to it, extend, Cannot steal—no trading back. Life's thread short from start to end, Youth and age—both in a crack.