The Song of Yesterday
IBut yesterdayI looked awayO'er happy lands, where sunshine layIn golden blots,Inlaid with spotsOf shade and wild forget-me-nots.
My head was fairWith flaxen hair,And fragrant breezes, faint and rare,And, warm with drouthFrom out the south,Blew all my curls across my mouth.
And, cool and sweet,My naked feetFound dewy pathways through the wheat;And out againWhere, down the lane,The dust was dimpled with the rain.
IIBut yesterday! --Adream, astray,From morning's red to evening's dray,O'er dales and hillsOf daffodilsAnd lorn sweet-fluting whippoorwills.
I knew nor caresNor tears nor prayers --A mortal god, crowned unawaresWith sunset -- andA scepter-wandOf apple-blossoms in my hand!
The dewy blueOf twilight grewTo purple, with a star or twoWhose lisping raysFailed in the blazeOf sudden fireflies through the haze.
IIIBut yesterdayI heard the layOf summer birds, when I, as theyWith breast and wing,All quiveringWith life and love, could only sing.
My head was leantWhere, with it, blentA maiden's, o'er her instrument;While all the night,From vale to height,Was filled with echoes of delight.
And all our dreamsWere lit with gleamsOf that lost land of reedy streams,Along whose brimForever swimPan's lilies, laughing up at him.
IVBut yesterday! . . .O blooms of May,And summer roses -- where away?O stars above;And lips of love,And all the honeyed sweets thereof! --
O lad and lass,And orchard pass,And briered lane, and daisied grass!O gleam and gloom,And woodland bloom,And breezy breaths of all perfume! --
No more for meOr mine shall beThy raptures -- save in memory, --No more -- no more --Till through the DoorOf Glory gleam the days of yore.
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