University of Virginia Library


397

SONG FOR ALL SEASONS.

When March tempests smite the pine,
Straight I dream of thee and thine,
And Spring so soon to be:

398

When the sweet bee, hour by hour,
Rifles in the red-rose flower,
Still I sigh for thee:
For thy voice, methinks, is ringing
'Midst the little labourer's singing.
Busy Insect-Song,
Delving deep for honey treasure,
Making very toil a pleasure,
Runs its life along.
When the black wild Winter throws
His icy gauntlet down, and blows
His trumpet to the Sea;
And the great Sea answers loud,
From his throne amid the cloud,
Still I think on thee.
In the departing Summer's night,
And when the swallow takes her flight
Over land and sea,
And, in Autumn storms and thunders,
Thro' the rain-dark misty wonders,
I look out for thee.
To every sound my Spirit wakes,
From every hue a colour takes,
That brings me back to thee:

399

Ah! when wilt thou, so deep in debt,
Thy scorn, and power, and pride forget,
And think, for once, of me?