 | Autumnal leaves : tales and sketches in prose and rhyme |  |
75
SUPPLICATION TO SPRING.
Oh, save me, save me, gentle Spring!
Bring healing on thy balmy wing!
I loved thee more than all the year.
To no one hast thou been more dear.
Bring healing on thy balmy wing!
I loved thee more than all the year.
To no one hast thou been more dear.
Bright emeralds I valued less,
Than early grass, and water-cress.
Gem of the year I named thy flower,
Though roses grace fair Summer's bower.
Than early grass, and water-cress.
Gem of the year I named thy flower,
Though roses grace fair Summer's bower.
The queenly ones, with fragrant sighs,
Tried to allure thy poet's eyes;
But they were far less dear to me,
Than thy simple wild anemone.
Tried to allure thy poet's eyes;
But they were far less dear to me,
Than thy simple wild anemone.
Bear witness for me, little flower!
Beloved from childhood's earliest hour;
And dandelions, so much despised,
Whose blossoms more than gold I prized.
Beloved from childhood's earliest hour;
And dandelions, so much despised,
Whose blossoms more than gold I prized.
I welcomed swallows on the wing,
And loved them for their news of Spring.
I gave a feast for the earliest one,
As if a long-lost child had come,
And loved them for their news of Spring.
I gave a feast for the earliest one,
As if a long-lost child had come,
Blest harbingers of genial hours,
Unite your voices with the flowers!
Dear graceful birds, pour forth your prayer,
That nature will her poet spare!
Unite your voices with the flowers!
76
That nature will her poet spare!
Plead with the Maker of the rain!
That he will chilling showers restrain;
And my poor breast no longer feel
Sharp needle-points of frosty steel.
That he will chilling showers restrain;
And my poor breast no longer feel
Sharp needle-points of frosty steel.
Thou beautiful old maple tree!
For my love's sake, pray thou for me!
Thy leaf-buds, op'ning to the sun,
Like pearls I counted ev'ry one.
For my love's sake, pray thou for me!
Thy leaf-buds, op'ning to the sun,
Like pearls I counted ev'ry one.
I wished I might thy grandson be,
Dear, ven'rable old maple tree!
That my young arms might round thee twine,
And mix my vernal crown with thine.
Dear, ven'rable old maple tree!
That my young arms might round thee twine,
And mix my vernal crown with thine.
Ah, even now, full well I ween,
Thou hast thy robe of soft light-green.
I seem to hear thee whisp'ring slow
To the vernal grass below.
Thou hast thy robe of soft light-green.
I seem to hear thee whisp'ring slow
To the vernal grass below.
Stretch thy strong arms toward the sky,
And pray thy poet may not die!
I will heal thy scars with kisses sweet,
And pour out wine upon thy feet.
And pray thy poet may not die!
I will heal thy scars with kisses sweet,
And pour out wine upon thy feet.
Blessings on the patriarch tree!
Hoarsely he intercedes for me;
And little flowers, with voices mild,
Beg thee to spare thy suff'ring child.
Hoarsely he intercedes for me;
And little flowers, with voices mild,
Beg thee to spare thy suff'ring child.
77
Fair season, so beloved by me!
Thy young and old all plead with thee.
Oh, heal me, with thy balmy wing!
I have so worshipped thee, sweet Spring
Thy young and old all plead with thee.
Oh, heal me, with thy balmy wing!
I have so worshipped thee, sweet Spring
| Autumnal leaves : tales and sketches in prose and rhyme | |