The Poems of Mackenzie Bell | ||
SPRING'S IMMORTALITY.
The buds awake at touch of Spring
From Winter's joyless dream;
From many a stone the ouzels sing
By yonder mossy stream.
From Winter's joyless dream;
From many a stone the ouzels sing
By yonder mossy stream.
The cuckoo's voice, from copse and vale,
Lingers, as if to meet
The music of the nightingale
Across the rising wheat—
Lingers, as if to meet
The music of the nightingale
Across the rising wheat—
The bird whom ancient Solitude
Hath kept for ever young,
Unaltered since in studious mood
Calm Milton mused and sung.
Hath kept for ever young,
Unaltered since in studious mood
Calm Milton mused and sung.
Ah, strange it is, dear heart, to know
Spring's gladsome mystery
Was sweet to lovers long ago—
Most sweet to such as we—
Spring's gladsome mystery
Was sweet to lovers long ago—
Most sweet to such as we—
That fresh new leaves and meadow flowers
Bloomed when the south wind came;
While hands of Spring caressed the bowers,
The throstle sang the same.
Bloomed when the south wind came;
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The throstle sang the same.
Unchanged, unchanged the throstle's song,
Unchanged Spring's answering breath,
Unchanged, though cruel Time was strong,
And stilled our love in death.
Unchanged Spring's answering breath,
Unchanged, though cruel Time was strong,
And stilled our love in death.
The Poems of Mackenzie Bell | ||