Welcome back to the Daily Poem here in the Close Reeds Podcast Network. I'm David Kern. Today is February 5th, 2020.

And the poem that I'm going to read today is by George Gordon Byron, Lord Byron. He lived from 1788 to 1824.

And was, of course, an English poet who is also known for his efforts as a revolutionary during the Greek War of Independence,

and of course was a key figure in the Romantic movement of poetry.

The poem that I'm going to read today is called Stanzas written on the road between Florence and Pisa.

It goes like this.

Oh, talk not to me of a name, great, and story.

The days of our youth are the days of our glory,

and the myrtle and ivy of sweet two and twenty are worth all your laurels,

though ever so plenty.

What are garlands and crowns to the brow that is wrinkled,

tis but as a dead flower with may do be sprinkled,

then away with all such from the head that is hoary,

what care I for the wreaths that can only give glory?

Oh, fame!

If I e'er took delight in thy praises,

twas less for the sake of thy high-sounding phrases,

than to see the bright eyes of the dear one discover she thought that I was not unworthy to love her.

There, chiefly, I sought thee.

There only I found thee.

Her glance was the best of the rays that surround me.

When it sparked or aught that was bright in my story, I knew it was love and I felt it

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