 | John Clare: The Midsummer Cushion |  |
163
HYMN TO SPRING
Thou virgin bliss the seasons bring
Thou yet beloved in vain
I long to hail thee gentle spring
& meet thy face again
That rose bud cheek that [sun] lit eye
Those locks of fairest hue
Which zephers wave each minute bye
& show thy smiles anew
Thou yet beloved in vain
I long to hail thee gentle spring
& meet thy face again
That rose bud cheek that [sun] lit eye
Those locks of fairest hue
Which zephers wave each minute bye
& show thy smiles anew
O how I wait thy reign begun
To gladden earth & skys
When threatened with a warmer sun
The sullen winter flies
When songs are sung from every tree
When bushes bud to bowers
When plains a carpet spread for thee
& strew thy way with flowers
To gladden earth & skys
When threatened with a warmer sun
The sullen winter flies
When songs are sung from every tree
When bushes bud to bowers
When plains a carpet spread for thee
& strew thy way with flowers
Ah I do long that day to see
When neer a fountain side
I loiter hours away with thee
With beauty gratified
To look upon those eyes of blue
Whose light is of the sky
& that unearthly face to view
Which love might deify
When neer a fountain side
I loiter hours away with thee
With beauty gratified
To look upon those eyes of blue
Whose light is of the sky
& that unearthly face to view
Which love might deify
I long to press that glowing breast
Whose softness might suffice
A pillow for an angels rest
& still be paradise
& o I wait those smiles to see
To me to nature given
Smiles stolen from joys eternity
When mortals taste of heaven
Whose softness might suffice
A pillow for an angels rest
& still be paradise
& o I wait those smiles to see
To me to nature given
Smiles stolen from joys eternity
When mortals taste of heaven
O urge the surley winter bye
Nor let him longer live
Whose suns creep shyly down the sky
& grudge the light they give
O bring thy suns & brighter days
Which lover like delight
To hasten on their morning ways
& loath retire at night
Nor let him longer live
Whose suns creep shyly down the sky
& grudge the light they give
O bring thy suns & brighter days
Which lover like delight
164
& loath retire at night
O hasten on thou lovely spring
Bid winter frown in vain
Thy mantle oer thy shoulders fling
& choose an early reign
Thy herald flower in many a place
The daisey joins with me
While chill winds nip his crimpled face
He smiles in hopes of thee
Bid winter frown in vain
Thy mantle oer thy shoulders fling
& choose an early reign
Thy herald flower in many a place
The daisey joins with me
While chill winds nip his crimpled face
He smiles in hopes of thee
Then come & while my heart is warm
To sing thy pleasures new
Led onward by thy lovely arm
I'll high me through the dew
Or meet thy noondays sober wind
Thy rearing flowers to see
& weave a wreath of those I find
To nature & to thee
To sing thy pleasures new
Led onward by thy lovely arm
I'll high me through the dew
Or meet thy noondays sober wind
Thy rearing flowers to see
& weave a wreath of those I find
To nature & to thee
| John Clare: The Midsummer Cushion | |