Now Is Past

_Now_ is past--the happy _now_ When we together roved Beneath the wildwood's oak-tree bough And Nature said we loved. Winter's blast The _now_ since then has crept between, And left us both apart. Winters that withered all the green Have froze the beating heart. Now is past. _Now_ is past since last we met Beneath the hazel bough; Before the evening sun was set Her shadow stretched below. Autumn's blast Has stained and blighted every bough; Wild strawberries like her lips Have left the mosses green below, Her bloom's upon the hips. Now is past. _Now_ is past, is changed agen, The woods and fields are painted new. Wild strawberries which both gathered then, None know now where they grew. The skys oercast. Wood strawberries faded from wood sides, Green leaves have all turned yellow; No Adelaide walks the wood rides, True love has no bed-fellow. Now is past.