Past , present and future 

Tell me , tell me smiling child

for the past is like to thee? 

An autumn evening soft and mild.

With a wind that signs mournfully. 

Tell Me, what is the present hour ? 

A green and flowery spray 

Where a young bird sits gathering it's power .

To mount and fly away. 

And ,what is the future happy one?

Assi beneath cloudless sun .

A mighty, glorious  dazzling sea

stretching into infinity.

By - Emily brontë 

Meaning of the poem 

Past, Present, Future” is a poem by Emily Brontë that explores the nature of time and reality through the eyes of a child. The poem compares the past, present, and future to different seasons. 

The poem

The poem is written in three stanzas of four lines each. 

The narrator asks a child to describe what the past, present, and future are like. 

The child responds with simple words that convey deep meanings. 

The child's descriptions

Past

The child describes the past as an autumn evening, with a mournful wind and falling leaves. The child remembers the past with longing and sadness because it has passed. 

Present

The child describes the present as springtime, with greenery, flowers, and a young bird learning to fly. The child sees the present as a time of possibilities and new experiences. 

Future

The child describes the future as a vast sea under a bright sun, with no end. The child sees the future as a time of limitless opportunities. 

The poem's themes

The poem explores the idea that time is constantly progressing, with the future becoming the present and the present becoming the past. 

The poem also explores the idea that the past is ephemeral, while the future is uncertain and full of opportunities.