'Spring and Fall, to a Young Child'

'Spring and Fall, to a Young Child'

Margaret, are you grieving
Over Goldengrove unleaving?
Leaves, like the things of man, you
With your fresh thoughts care for, can you?
Ah! as the heart grows older
It will come to such sights colder
By and by, nor spare a sigh
Though worlds of wanwood leafmeal lie;
And yet you will weep and know why.
Now no matter, child, the name:
Sorrow's springs are the same.
Nor mouth had, no nor mind, expressed
What heart heard of, ghost guessed:
It is the blight man was born for,
It is Margaret you mourn for.

     -- Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844-1889)

(I think I am on a bit of a poetry appreciation kick. i think I should read more. I love this one and have for some time, because I identify with it so deeply. I have to check my motives when I am sad to see if I am merely mourning for myself and oh so often I am.)