 | Poems and Songs by E. H. B. [i.e. E. H. Bickersteth] |  |
114
STANZAS TO SPRING.
Oft have I hailed thee—nurse of birds and flowers!
And joyed to see the sunlight mid the showers,
Making earth look all bright,—the bow above
A radiant trophy of supernal love.
And joyed to see the sunlight mid the showers,
Making earth look all bright,—the bow above
A radiant trophy of supernal love.
Far in the vale the lowly lily grows,
I mark the bright green which its leaves disclose,
And seek the fairy bells—sure magic wrought
Those pearly flowers—with light and beauty fraught.
I mark the bright green which its leaves disclose,
And seek the fairy bells—sure magic wrought
Those pearly flowers—with light and beauty fraught.
Do I not love the violet's modest dye,
Whose pendant bloom perfumes the Wind-God's sigh!
Asking no praise from man, it drinks the dew
Fresh from Heaven's fount, blushing cerulean hue.
Whose pendant bloom perfumes the Wind-God's sigh!
Asking no praise from man, it drinks the dew
Fresh from Heaven's fount, blushing cerulean hue.
Thou breath'st o'er all, and lo! the fields are green,
And coronals of odorous flowers are seen;
All beauty and all light—a lovely band,—
While the rapt Hours are waiting thy command.
And coronals of odorous flowers are seen;
All beauty and all light—a lovely band,—
While the rapt Hours are waiting thy command.
115
Bring me the daisy,—like an infant's dream
Its child-like beauty—brief, but how serene,—
And prodigal it stars the upland lawn,—
Kissing the feet of the ambrosial morn.
Its child-like beauty—brief, but how serene,—
And prodigal it stars the upland lawn,—
Kissing the feet of the ambrosial morn.
Thou bid'st the wildlings of the earth appear,
Sweet nature's heralds of the early year!
Amid the tangled brake—in mercy given,—
To cheer life's path and point above to Heaven.
Sweet nature's heralds of the early year!
Amid the tangled brake—in mercy given,—
To cheer life's path and point above to Heaven.
'Tis Spring! sweet Spring! which soothes the troubled breast,
Hushing our sorrows to a holier rest;
Flinging around, above, beneath, a charm,
A haunting vision and a dreamless calm.
Hushing our sorrows to a holier rest;
Flinging around, above, beneath, a charm,
A haunting vision and a dreamless calm.
| Poems and Songs by E. H. B. [i.e. E. H. Bickersteth] | |