-on a settled man's doubts

Go, young man, I said one night.
Go chase the fading height,
before it fades away forever.

Now the people over there
are just like us, you know:
at fading heights they stare.

But if your urge brings you there,
smash your bitter bottle against the pristine top.
By the **** of baptism let an old man know
how well you fare.

O yes, young man, please let me know
I did the right thing to remain
and send you out, so I could abstain
from capricious actions all my life.