 | A New Year's Eve, and Other Poems |  |
185
SPRING.
The bleak winds of Winter are past,
The frost and the snow are both gone,
And the trees are beginning at last
To put their green leafiness on.
The frost and the snow are both gone,
And the trees are beginning at last
To put their green leafiness on.
The snowdrop, like ivory white,
The crocus, as yellow as gold,
Th' hepatica, hardy and bright,
Have ventured their bloom to unfold.
The crocus, as yellow as gold,
Th' hepatica, hardy and bright,
Have ventured their bloom to unfold.
186
And, sweeter than these, in the lane,
On its warm, sheltered bank may be found,
The violets in blossom again,
Shedding Spring's richest odours around.
On its warm, sheltered bank may be found,
The violets in blossom again,
Shedding Spring's richest odours around.
The primrose and cowslip are out,
And the fields are with daisies all gay;
While the butterflies, flitting about,
Seem glad in the sunshine to play.
And the fields are with daisies all gay;
While the butterflies, flitting about,
Seem glad in the sunshine to play.
Not more glad than the bee is to gather
New honey to store in his cell;
He too is abroad this fine weather,
To rifle cup, blossom, and bell.
New honey to store in his cell;
He too is abroad this fine weather,
To rifle cup, blossom, and bell.
The goldfinch, and blackbird, and thrush,
Are brimful of music and glee;
They have each got a nest in some bush,
And the rook has built his on a tree.
Are brimful of music and glee;
They have each got a nest in some bush,
And the rook has built his on a tree.
187
The lark's home is hid in the corn,
But he springs from his low nest—on high,
And warbles his welcome to morn,
'Till he seems like a speck in the sky.
But he springs from his low nest—on high,
And warbles his welcome to morn,
'Till he seems like a speck in the sky.
Oh! who would be sleeping in bed
When the skies with such melody ring,
And the bright earth beneath him is fed
With the beauty and fragrance of Spring?
When the skies with such melody ring,
And the bright earth beneath him is fed
With the beauty and fragrance of Spring?
| A New Year's Eve, and Other Poems | |