The Complete Poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar/Yesterday And To-Morrow

YESTERDAY AND TO-MORROW

Yesterday I held your hand, Reverently I pressed it, And its gentle yieldingness From my soul I blessed it.

But to-day I sit alone, Sad and sore repining; Must our gold forever know Flames for the refining?

Yesterday I walked with you, Could a day be sweeter? Life was all a lyric song Set to tricksy meter.

Ah, to-day is like a dirge,— Place my arms around you, Let me feel the same dear joy As when first I found you.

Let me once retrace my steps, From these roads unpleasant, Let my heart and mind and soul All ignore the present.

Yesterday the iron seared And to-day means sorrow. Pause, my soul, arise, arise, Look where gleams the morrow.