University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
Songs of two seasons

by E. Nesbit. Illustrated by J. McIntyre

collapse section
 
 
 



SPRING.

Welcome Spring! The violets peer
Through green leaves, and dainty—
White wood-sorrel spreads its snow,


And the royal king cups blow,
Happy children play
Gathering cowslips all the day!


'Twas of this the old year dreamed
When the plough the brown land seamed,
When the autumn sun-sets shone
On a world whose flowers were gone,
And sad winds went whispering:
“Summer's dead, but hope for spring!”


Now laughs out the flowered year,
And the birds sing “Spring is here!”
Now the wee white lambs are born,


And the green spears of the corn
Day by day more sturdy grow
Till the brown clods hardly show,


Now the mated turtle-dove
In the elm-tree coos of love,
And far off the cuckoos sing
“World! be glad-be glad of Spring!


Winter Roses

Holly and mistletoe, snow and ice!
Where is the summer's paradise?
Oh sweet sweet maiden, those eyes of blue
Make a summer all the year through!
And your sweet sweet lips just pout to show
How fair a rose can bloom the snow!


Winter.

Cold, cold, cold!
Snow in the field and the fold,
Snow in the wood and snow in the air
In the sky, snow everywhere!


Snow, snow, snow!
White world where ever we go
Snow on the roof, and snow in the lane,
And against the window pane!


Bright, bright, bright.
The fire light and candle-light
A beacon to those who are out in the snow
To show them the way to go!


Dear, dear, dear!
The last chill days of the year!


When holly gleams in church and in hall
In the Christmas festival!


Sweet, sweet, sweet!
The Christmas when old friends meet
When in hall and cottage all voices say:
“May God bless our Christmas Day.”