Referendum Question

Would there have been tears
 when the old Union died,
 a bitter mourning for the loss
 of joyous hope denied?
 Or is this death forever theirs
 who dare to look beyond the past?
 The autumn sun is lower now,
 the wind blows cool, the petals drop; 
 the hills lie purple as the pheasants’ cry
 foretells their death before the guns,
 and far from here contending claims
 engulf the promises held out
 to save a tryst whose love was spent.
 The question asks the aftermath:
 would there, would there have been tears?

Originally published at Blethers. CC-BY-NC-ND