The days gone by
Come back upon me from the dawn almost
Of life: the hiding-places of my power seem open;

I approach, and then they close;
I see by glimpses now; when age comes on,
May scarcely see at all, and I would give,
While yet we may, as far as words can give,
A substance and a life to what I feel :
I would enshrine the spirit of the past
For future restoration.

William Wordsworth

from: The Prelude, Book XII