THEN AND NOW.

When my old heart was young, my dear,

The Earth and Heaven were so near

That in my dreams I oft could hear

The steps of unseen races;

In woodlands, where bright waters ran,

On hills, GOD'S rainbows used to span,

I followed voices not of man,

And smiled in spirit faces.

Now my old heart is old, my sweet,

No longer Earth and Heaven meet;

All Life is grown to one long street

Where fact with fancy clashes;

The voices now that speak to me

Are prose instead of poetry:

And in the faces now I see

Is less of flame than ashes.