See also: Poems by all poets about world and All poems by Henry Austin Dobson
When This Old World Was New
When this old world was new,
Before the towns were made,
Love was a shepherd too.
Clear-eyed as flowers men grew,
Of evil unafraid,
When this old world was new.
No skill had they to woo,
Who but their hearts obey'd—
Love was a shepherd too.
What need to feign or sue?
Not thus was life delay'd
When this old world was new.
Under the cloudless blue
They kiss'd their shepherd-maid—
Love was a shepherd too.
They knew but joy; they knew
No pang of Love decay'd:
When this old world was new,
Love was a shepherd too.