 | The Poetical Works of John Critchley Prince |  |
63
“AS WELCOME AS FLOWERS IN MAY.”
“As welcome as flowers in May!”
Kind words with a musical sound;
What can be more welcome than they,
When fair-footed Spring cometh round?
Glad Spring! ever welcome to each,
To Childhood, to Manhood, and Age,
For she comes to delight us and teach,
And she opens a beautiful page.
Kind words with a musical sound;
What can be more welcome than they,
When fair-footed Spring cometh round?
Glad Spring! ever welcome to each,
To Childhood, to Manhood, and Age,
For she comes to delight us and teach,
And she opens a beautiful page.
There are many things welcome as these,
As we thread the dim mazes of life;
A calm sense of pleasure and ease
After seasons of sorrow and strife—
A feeling of safety and glee
When a danger, long threatened, is past,
And even the knowledge to see
That the worst has befallen at last;—
As we thread the dim mazes of life;
A calm sense of pleasure and ease
After seasons of sorrow and strife—
A feeling of safety and glee
When a danger, long threatened, is past,
And even the knowledge to see
That the worst has befallen at last;—
Fresh health on the cheek of a child,
That we feared was escaping above;—
A smile from the maid undefiled,
Who hath kindled one's soul into love;—
The sound of the blithe marriage bell
To the bride who has given her heart,
And the words of her husband, that tell
His devotion will never depart;—
That we feared was escaping above;—
A smile from the maid undefiled,
Who hath kindled one's soul into love;—
The sound of the blithe marriage bell
To the bride who has given her heart,
And the words of her husband, that tell
His devotion will never depart;—
64
The birth of a child, when we feel
We can foster it, guard it, and guide,
While the smiles of its mother reveal
Her matchless affection and pride;—
Its first broken syllables, made
More closely our bosoms to bind,
And its upgrowing beauty, displayed
In the promising dawn of its mind;—
We can foster it, guard it, and guide,
While the smiles of its mother reveal
Her matchless affection and pride;—
Its first broken syllables, made
More closely our bosoms to bind,
And its upgrowing beauty, displayed
In the promising dawn of its mind;—
The first pleasant glimpse of our home,
After travel, with toil and annoy,
When we vow for the moment to roam
No more from its threshold of joy;—
Each form more expanded in grace,—
Each voice more melodious grown;—
The soul-beaming gladness of face
Of the whole household treasure, our own;—
After travel, with toil and annoy,
When we vow for the moment to roam
No more from its threshold of joy;—
Each form more expanded in grace,—
Each voice more melodious grown;—
The soul-beaming gladness of face
Of the whole household treasure, our own;—
Old Ocean's magnificent roar
To a voyager loving the sea,
And the sight of his dear native shore
When he cometh back scathless and free;—
The music of brooks and of birds
To a captive just loosened from thrall,
And the love-lighted looks and sweet words
Of his wife, who is dearer than all;—
To a voyager loving the sea,
And the sight of his dear native shore
When he cometh back scathless and free;—
The music of brooks and of birds
To a captive just loosened from thrall,
And the love-lighted looks and sweet words
Of his wife, who is dearer than all;—
The soul-touching penitent-tears
Of those who have strayed from the light,
When they come, with their hopes and their fears,
To ask us to lead them aright;—
The frank, cordial look of a foe
We have conquered by kindness and peace,
And the pure satisfaction to know
That a friendship begun will increase;—
Of those who have strayed from the light,
When they come, with their hopes and their fears,
To ask us to lead them aright;—
The frank, cordial look of a foe
We have conquered by kindness and peace,
And the pure satisfaction to know
That a friendship begun will increase;—
65
And then, in our calm chimney nook,
Alone, with a fire burning bright,
How welcome a newly-brought book,
That has startled the world with delight!
How welcome one's own printed name
To our first happy efforts in song,
And the first grateful whisper of Fame,
That bids us speed bravely along!
Alone, with a fire burning bright,
How welcome a newly-brought book,
That has startled the world with delight!
How welcome one's own printed name
To our first happy efforts in song,
And the first grateful whisper of Fame,
That bids us speed bravely along!
There are many more subjects, no doubt,
If my Muse had but language and time;
But there's something I must not leave out,—
It will gracefully finish my rhyme:
From a friend how heart-warming to hear,
What his lips with sincerity say,
“Why, your presence brings comfort and cheer;—
“You're as welcome as flowers in May!”
If my Muse had but language and time;
But there's something I must not leave out,—
It will gracefully finish my rhyme:
From a friend how heart-warming to hear,
What his lips with sincerity say,
“Why, your presence brings comfort and cheer;—
“You're as welcome as flowers in May!”
| The Poetical Works of John Critchley Prince | |