Poems (Probyn)/Yesterday

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For works with similar titles, see Yesterday.
Poems
by May Probyn
Yesterday
4643857Poems — YesterdayMay Probyn
YESTERDAY.
'Twas yesterday he went away—
And all my life is still to live!
One was my lover, one my friend—
What other answer could I give?
He told me "women should obey—
Love was no love that would not bend"—
He left me nothing more to say—
'Twas yesterday—but yesterday.

We walked beside the uncut hay—
He drew me close—he held my hand;
I whispered it was his mistake;
He said I did not understand.
He laid commands—I gave him nay—
And then I thought my heart would break;
Not all my tears could make him stay—
'Twas yesterday—but yesterday!

Can love be love that leads astray?
Forswear the friend of all my life—?
Or else, he said—and bade me choose—
He would not have me for a wife.
He did not urge, nor plead, nor pray—
He left me nothing more to lose,
No gleam of hope, no faintest ray.
My skies have lost their sunny blues,
And changed to chill and winter grey;
And yet but now they shone so gay,
But now we walked beside the may,
And heard the thrushes' roundelay—
Dear God! 'twas only yesterday.