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Five months ago the stream did flow,
The lilies bloomed within the sedge,
And we were lingering to and fro,
Where none will track thee in this snow,
Along the stream, beside the hedge.
Ah, Sweet, be free to love and go!
For if I do not hear thy foot,
The frozen river is as mute,
The flowers have dried down to the root:
And why, since these be changed since May,
Shouldst thou change less than they.
And slow, slow as the winter snow
The tears have drifted to mine eyes;
And my poor cheeks, five months ago
Set blushing at thy praises so,
Put paleness on for a disguise.
Ah, Sweet, be free to praise and go!
For if my face is turned too pale,
It was thine oath that first did fail, --
It was thy love proved false and frail, --
And why, since these be changed enow,
Should I change less than thou.
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Copyright © 2003-2008 Gunnar Bengtsson, Poetry Connection. All Rights Reserved.
I am a 16 year old girl and browsing for related material for school I came across this poem. It is deep and insightful, with much relevance to relationships today. The speaker in “Change Upon Change” begins speaking optimistically, of a time when everything seems to be going the way it was originally planned. Everything is in accordance to the rightful ways of nature: “the stream did flow, The lilies bloomed within the sedge,” (l.1-2). She then goes on to describe when she and her love were carefree with no one to hassle them or find their love, “Where none will track thee in this snow,” (l.4). It is a time when they are allowed to love and let it show. Things start to change in line 7. The downfall in their relationship is symbolized with winter. The snow has come to dry up the flowers that their loved bloomed, and the river is now frozen. “The tears have drifted to mine eyes;” she mourns over the loss or sudden change in their love. She is no longer happy and bashful, therefore the rosy redness of her blushing has faded. She is now pale and upset. The oath that she took to love this man is now a lie, and her love had faded or become “frail”. The beautiful summer that symbolized their love has been taken over by winter with time.
This is a poem that shows what can happen. It is possible for love to turn sour. This was written in the 19th Century and it is still relevant today.
lauren from Australia