 | The Poet and Nature and The Morning Road |  |
THE WIND OF SPRING.
A wind, that smelled of honey and dew,
Out of the gates of the Morning drew,
And over the clover meadows blew.
Out of the gates of the Morning drew,
And over the clover meadows blew.
It called to the bird on its bough, “Awake!
Breathe of my breath, and fill the brake
With joy of your song for its sweetness' sake.”
Breathe of my breath, and fill the brake
With joy of your song for its sweetness' sake.”
And the bird sat up on its bough and sang
'Till the leaves peeped out and for rapture sprang,
And all the aisles of the orchard rang.
'Till the leaves peeped out and for rapture sprang,
And all the aisles of the orchard rang.
And its mate came singing, and straightway they
Started to build on the topmost spray
Of the apple tree; and sang all day.
Started to build on the topmost spray
Of the apple tree; and sang all day.
And the wind, to the boughs of the apple-tree,
Spoke a word: “Now, listen to me!
Open your eyes, so you may see!”
Spoke a word: “Now, listen to me!
Open your eyes, so you may see!”
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And at its word, without ado,
The little buds crowded the brown bark through,
And took great joy of their own bright hue.
The little buds crowded the brown bark through,
And took great joy of their own bright hue.
And the glad wind kissed them and farther fled,
And found on the earth a violet bed,
And stooped and whispered: “Lift your head!
And found on the earth a violet bed,
And stooped and whispered: “Lift your head!
“Wake! for Love, you know, is near—
The Love that the Earth holds very dear.
Here is a jewel for each one's ear.”
The Love that the Earth holds very dear.
Here is a jewel for each one's ear.”
And straight there sparkled a drop of dew
In every violet's ear of blue,
To greet young Love as his feet passed through.
In every violet's ear of blue,
To greet young Love as his feet passed through.
And Love, who was early up and out,
Heard the bustle and laugh and shout,
And wondered what 'twas all about.
Heard the bustle and laugh and shout,
And wondered what 'twas all about.
And the Wind cried, “Come and follow me;
The Earth is waiting with blossom and bee
For you to walk 'neath the orchard tree.”
The Earth is waiting with blossom and bee
For you to walk 'neath the orchard tree.”
And Love came wondering, starry-eyed,
Like a little child, down the green hillside,
And before him went the Wind who cried:
Like a little child, down the green hillside,
And before him went the Wind who cried:
“Come, birds, and bees, and butterflies;
And, blossoms, look with all your eyes!
This is the Love that never dies!”
And, blossoms, look with all your eyes!
This is the Love that never dies!”
| The Poet and Nature and The Morning Road | |