 | Poems for children |  |
75
APRIL AND MAY.
I. APRIL.
Birds on the boughs before the buds
Begin to burst in the Spring,
Bending their heads to the April floods,
Too much out of breath to sing!
Begin to burst in the Spring,
Bending their heads to the April floods,
Too much out of breath to sing!
They chirp, “Hey-day! How the rain comes down!
Comrades, cuddle together!
Cling to the bark so rough and brown,
For this is April weather.
Comrades, cuddle together!
Cling to the bark so rough and brown,
For this is April weather.
“Oh, the warm, beautiful, drenching rain!
I don't mind it, do you?
Soon will the sky be clear again,
Smiling, and fresh, and blue.
I don't mind it, do you?
Soon will the sky be clear again,
Smiling, and fresh, and blue.
“Sweet and sparkling is every drop
That slides from the soft, gray clouds;
Blossoms will blush to the very top
Of the bare old tree in crowds.
That slides from the soft, gray clouds;
Blossoms will blush to the very top
Of the bare old tree in crowds.
“Oh, the warm, delicious, hopeful rain!
Let us be glad together.
Summer comes flying in beauty again,
Through the fitful April weather.”
Let us be glad together.
Summer comes flying in beauty again,
Through the fitful April weather.”
76
II. MAY.
Skies are glowing in gold and blue;
What did the brave birds say?
Plenty of sunshine to come, they knew,
In the pleasant month of May!
What did the brave birds say?
Plenty of sunshine to come, they knew,
In the pleasant month of May!
She calls a breeze from the South to blow,
And breathe on the boughs so bare,
And straight they are laden with rosy snow,
And there 's honey and spice in the air!
And breathe on the boughs so bare,
And straight they are laden with rosy snow,
And there 's honey and spice in the air!
Oh, the glad, green leaves! Oh, the happy wind!
Oh, delicate fragrance and balm!
Storm and tumult are left behind
In a rapture of golden calm.
Oh, delicate fragrance and balm!
Storm and tumult are left behind
In a rapture of golden calm.
From dewy morning to starry night
The birds sing sweet and strong,
That the radiant sky is filled with light,
That the days are fair and long.
The birds sing sweet and strong,
That the radiant sky is filled with light,
That the days are fair and long.
That bees are drowsy about the hive—
Earth is so warm and gay!
And 't is joy enough to be alive
In the heavenly month of May!
Earth is so warm and gay!
And 't is joy enough to be alive
In the heavenly month of May!
| Poems for children | |