The Poetical Works of John Critchley Prince Edited by R. A. Douglas Lithgow |
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THE COMING OF THE MAY. |
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 | The Poetical Works of John Critchley Prince |  |
235
THE COMING OF THE MAY.
All Nature seems to feel the power—
The gracious influence of the time;
The quickening sun, the fostering shower
Of the returning prime;
The tranquil and the lessening night,
The genial and the lengthening day,
Which moves us with a new delight,
And speak of coming May.
The gracious influence of the time;
The quickening sun, the fostering shower
Of the returning prime;
The tranquil and the lessening night,
The genial and the lengthening day,
Which moves us with a new delight,
And speak of coming May.
Trees bourgeon into leafy grace;
The hedgerows wear a vernal fleece;
The brooklets leave a greener trace
Along their paths of peace:
A flower-light dawns upon the leas;
The woodland nooks grow sweetly gay;
And whispers every passing breeze,
The coming of the May.
The hedgerows wear a vernal fleece;
The brooklets leave a greener trace
Along their paths of peace:
A flower-light dawns upon the leas;
The woodland nooks grow sweetly gay;
And whispers every passing breeze,
The coming of the May.
236
A voyager the clouds among,
That sail athwart the ethereal sea,—
The lark pours forth his joyous song
Of rich melodious glee:
The throstle in the forest dell
Begins to chant his changeful lay;
And other voices soon will swell
The music of the May.
That sail athwart the ethereal sea,—
The lark pours forth his joyous song
Of rich melodious glee:
The throstle in the forest dell
Begins to chant his changeful lay;
And other voices soon will swell
The music of the May.
Awhile, and the clear country air
A thousand odours will diffuse;
And cultured gardens, here and there,
Kindle with dazzling hues;
The meads will gleam with floral gold,
With silver every hawthorn spray;
And children's eyes with joy behold
The blooming of the May.
A thousand odours will diffuse;
And cultured gardens, here and there,
Kindle with dazzling hues;
The meads will gleam with floral gold,
With silver every hawthorn spray;
And children's eyes with joy behold
The blooming of the May.
Young children—oh! how like they are
To this enchanting month of flowers,
When through her realm they wander far
To spend their playful hours:
With shout and laughter on they speed
Through pleasant field and woodland way;
And health and pleasure are their meed
Beneath the smile of May.
To this enchanting month of flowers,
When through her realm they wander far
To spend their playful hours:
With shout and laughter on they speed
Through pleasant field and woodland way;
And health and pleasure are their meed
Beneath the smile of May.
And should not toiling man rejoice
For every good the seasons bring,
Responsive to each gladsome voice
That wakens with the Spring?
Let his soul open, and be calm,
So that it may let in the day,
The bloom, the beauty, and the balm,—
The blessing of the May.
For every good the seasons bring,
Responsive to each gladsome voice
That wakens with the Spring?
Let his soul open, and be calm,
So that it may let in the day,
The bloom, the beauty, and the balm,—
The blessing of the May.
237
And while we love the glorious skies,
The gifts and grandeurs of the sod,
Let the heart's hidden incense rise
Unto the Giver—God!
May we so live a life of prayer,—
The prayer of virtuous deeds,—alway,
That we may breathe the holier air
Of Heaven's eternal May.
The gifts and grandeurs of the sod,
Let the heart's hidden incense rise
Unto the Giver—God!
May we so live a life of prayer,—
The prayer of virtuous deeds,—alway,
That we may breathe the holier air
Of Heaven's eternal May.
| The Poetical Works of John Critchley Prince | |