 | Songs of the sea, with other poems |  |
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THE FIRST SNOW-STORM.
As for the first wild flower,
In the early time of spring;
As for the summer shower,
When earth is languishing;
As for the rainbow's blending;
As for the day-star's glow,—
Have I looked for the descending
Of the first November snow.
In the early time of spring;
As for the summer shower,
When earth is languishing;
As for the rainbow's blending;
As for the day-star's glow,—
Have I looked for the descending
Of the first November snow.
It comes! on pinions airy
The virgin flakes alight,
Like the torn plumes of a fairy,
Or the apple-blossoms white;
With undulating motion,
The frozen ground they reach,
Or melt into the ocean,
That booms along the beach.
The virgin flakes alight,
Like the torn plumes of a fairy,
Or the apple-blossoms white;
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The frozen ground they reach,
Or melt into the ocean,
That booms along the beach.
Why watch I thus the falling
Of the first November snow?
Because on me 'tis calling
In the voice of long ago;
Because it ever blendeth
With the memories of the boy;—
Each flake, as it descendeth,
Enshrouds a perished joy!
Of the first November snow?
Because on me 'tis calling
In the voice of long ago;
Because it ever blendeth
With the memories of the boy;—
Each flake, as it descendeth,
Enshrouds a perished joy!
O! for those days when, rushing
Into the powdery air,
I felt the free, wild gushing
Of a spirit without care!
How, through the drifts that whitened
Our windows-sills at home,
I dashed, with heart unfrightened,
Like a dolphin through the foam!
Into the powdery air,
I felt the free, wild gushing
Of a spirit without care!
How, through the drifts that whitened
Our windows-sills at home,
I dashed, with heart unfrightened,
Like a dolphin through the foam!
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And then the merry ringing
Of the sleigh-bells at the door,
And the winter evening, bringing
A thousand pleasures more!
And the dear friends who surrounded
Our log-devouring hearth,
And the old songs that resounded,
And the hours of blameless mirth!
Of the sleigh-bells at the door,
And the winter evening, bringing
A thousand pleasures more!
And the dear friends who surrounded
Our log-devouring hearth,
And the old songs that resounded,
And the hours of blameless mirth!
Ah, first snow of November!
These joys thou dost recall;
But with them I remember,
They shall no more befall:
Companions have departed,
With whom that season fled;
And some are weary-hearted,
And some are with the dead.
These joys thou dost recall;
But with them I remember,
They shall no more befall:
Companions have departed,
With whom that season fled;
And some are weary-hearted,
And some are with the dead.
| Songs of the sea, with other poems | |