Thomas Bailey Aldrich's poem "I Vex Me Not With Brooding On The Years" is a reflection on the passing of time and the inevitability of death. The speaker expresses his acceptance of the fact that life is fleeting and that he will not be able to hold onto it forever. He states that he will not waste his time worrying about the years that have passed, but instead will focus on living in the present and making the most of the time he has left. The poem ends with the speaker declaring that he will not be afraid of death, but will instead embrace it as a part of life.
By Thomas Bailey Aldrich · First published 1880 · Genre: Poetry, Romanticism, Philosophy