If I were young as I have been
Hartley Coleridge
1796 to 1849
If I were young as I have been,
And you were only gay sixteen,
I would address you as a goddess,
Write loyal cantos to your boddice,
Wish that I were your cap, your shoe,
Or any thing that’s near to you.
But I am old, and you, my fair,
Are somewhat older than you were.
A lover’s language in your hearing
Would sound like irony and jeering.
Once you were fair to all that see,
Now you are only fair to me.
Hartley Coleridge's If I were young as I have been
I am busy working to bring Hartley Coleridge's "If I were young as I have been" to life through some unique musical arrangements and will have a full analysis of the poem here for you later.
In the meantime, I invite you to explore the poem's themes, structure, and meaning. You can also check out the gallery for other musical arrangements or learn more about Hartley Coleridge's life and contributions to literature.
Check back soon to experience how "If I were young as I have been" transforms when verse meets melody—a unique journey that makes poetry accessible, engaging, and profoundly moving in new ways.
© 2024-2025 R.I.Chalmers (V2Melody).
All music on this site by R.I.Chalmers (V2Melody) is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Attribution Requirement:
When using this music, you must give appropriate credit by including the following statement (or equivalent) wherever the music is used or credited:
“Music by R.I.Chalmers (V2Melody) – https://v2melody.com”
Support My Work:
If you enjoy this music and would like to support future creations, donations are always welcome but never required.
Donate