Poems (Temple)/Yesterday
For works with similar titles, see Yesterday.
YESTERDAY.
Oh magic word of wond'rous power,
Dread spoiler.of the present hour!
Why dost thou chase the beam of joy,
Why wake the fond reflective sigh?
Thou bane of bliss—Enchanting Yesterday!
Dread spoiler.of the present hour!
Why dost thou chase the beam of joy,
Why wake the fond reflective sigh?
Thou bane of bliss—Enchanting Yesterday!
When Spring leads forth her blushing train,
And flowrets gem the laughing plain,
Some bankrupt heart will pensive throb,
And of its charms the landscape rob,
To paint the faded sky of Yesterday.
And flowrets gem the laughing plain,
Some bankrupt heart will pensive throb,
And of its charms the landscape rob,
To paint the faded sky of Yesterday.
Alas! it cries, 'Can these compare
With those dear hours unbrown'd by Care;
Can that gay Sun, whose fervid glow,
But makes my pulses throb with woe,
Vie with the beauteous Sun of Yesterday?
With those dear hours unbrown'd by Care;
Can that gay Sun, whose fervid glow,
But makes my pulses throb with woe,
Vie with the beauteous Sun of Yesterday?
When Hope's illusive smiles are o'er;
And Peace withdraws her balmy store.
How Fancy plies her busy loom,
To beckon back the vanish'd bloom,
That mantled on the cheek of Yesterday?
And Peace withdraws her balmy store.
How Fancy plies her busy loom,
To beckon back the vanish'd bloom,
That mantled on the cheek of Yesterday?
When Lovers breathe the warm adieu,
And quit the haunts where passion grew
How Mem'ry then the past explores,
And ev'ry touching grace adores
That play'd around the brow of Yesterday!
And quit the haunts where passion grew
How Mem'ry then the past explores,
And ev'ry touching grace adores
That play'd around the brow of Yesterday!
And my lorn heart too feels thy pow'r,
The present sweets thou turn'st to sour;
E'en I review Time's ruffled stream,
And often catch a vivid gleam.
That bids me weep the flight of Yesterday.
The present sweets thou turn'st to sour;
E'en I review Time's ruffled stream,
And often catch a vivid gleam.
That bids me weep the flight of Yesterday.