The Ages of Life
Poem
Old Age's Lambent Peaks
The touch of flame - the illuminating fire - the loftiest look at
last,
O'er city, passion, sea - o'er prairie, mountain, wood - the earth
itself,
The airy, different, changing hues of all, in failing twilight,
Objects and groups, bearings, faces, reminiscences;
The calmer sight - the golden setting, clear and broad:
So much i' the atmosphere, the points of view, the situations whence
we scan,
Brought out by them alone - so much (perhaps the best) unreck'd
before;
The lights indeed from them - old age's lambent peaks.
Walt Whitman
Listen
Read by Olivier Holmey
Music
Life Is Long
Ruth Moody
Image
Head of Saint Matthew, Anonymous artist, Rembrandt workshop
Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington