Poems of sentiment containing An Erring Woman's Love, Love's Supremacy, and Worth While, Etc., Etc |
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WAS, IS, AND YET-TO-BE. |
 | Poems of sentiment |  |
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WAS, IS, AND YET-TO-BE.
Was, Is, and Yet-to-Be
Were chatting over a cup of tea.
Were chatting over a cup of tea.
In tarnished finery smelling of must,
Was talked of people long turned to dust.
Was talked of people long turned to dust.
Of titles and honors and high estate,
All forgotten or out of date;
All forgotten or out of date;
Of wonderful feasts in the long ago,
Of pride that perished with nothing to show.
Of pride that perished with nothing to show.
“I loathe the present”—said Was, with a groan.
“I live in pleasures that I have known.”
“I live in pleasures that I have known.”
The Yet-to-be, in a gown of gauze,
Looked over the head of musty Was,
Looked over the head of musty Was,
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And gazed far off into misty space
With a wrapt expression upon her face.
With a wrapt expression upon her face.
“Such wonderful pleasures are coming to me,
Such glory, such honor,” said Yet-to-be.
Such glory, such honor,” said Yet-to-be.
“No one dreamed, in the vast Has Been
Of such successes as I shall win.
Of such successes as I shall win.
The past, the present, why what are they?
I live for the joy of a future day.”
I live for the joy of a future day.”
Then practical Is, in a fresh print dress,
Spoke up with a laugh, “I must confess
Spoke up with a laugh, “I must confess
I find to-day so pleasant,” she said
“I never look back, and seldom ahead.
“I never look back, and seldom ahead.
What ever has been, is a finished sum.
What ever will be, why let it come.
What ever will be, why let it come.
To-day is mine. And so you see
I have the past and the yet-to-be;
I have the past and the yet-to-be;
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For to-day is the future of yesterday,
And the past of to-morrow. I live while may,
And the past of to-morrow. I live while may,
And I think the secret of pleasure is this,
And this alone,” said practical Is.
And this alone,” said practical Is.
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