 | Lyrics: By Martin F. Tupper |  |
133
In a Frost.
The 25th of April, 1854.
Cruel, cutting, killing frost!
Hope destroy'd and labour lost,
Earth dishearten'd, man dismay'd,
Joy extinguish'd, life decay'd!
All the early sprouts cut down,—
All the blossoms burnt and brown,—
Every green and tender shoot
Black and rotted to its root,—
Every modest opening leaf
Rudely made to pine in grief,—
Every bud of promise nipt,
And Nature's every feather clipt!
Hope destroy'd and labour lost,
Earth dishearten'd, man dismay'd,
Joy extinguish'd, life decay'd!
All the early sprouts cut down,—
All the blossoms burnt and brown,—
Every green and tender shoot
Black and rotted to its root,—
134
Rudely made to pine in grief,—
Every bud of promise nipt,
And Nature's every feather clipt!
Woe! for April skies were here,
Flush'd with warmth and summer cheer,—
April sun and April shower
Coaxing bud and leaf and flower,
Till the very fig had dared
To hope in pity to be spared.
But, one night, one bitter night,
Blasted all with angry spite,—
Seal'd the breasts of Nature up,—
Froze with hate her loving cup,—
Dash'd its honied milk with gall,
And in sheer envy ruin'd all!
Flush'd with warmth and summer cheer,—
April sun and April shower
Coaxing bud and leaf and flower,
Till the very fig had dared
To hope in pity to be spared.
But, one night, one bitter night,
Blasted all with angry spite,—
Seal'd the breasts of Nature up,—
Froze with hate her loving cup,—
Dash'd its honied milk with gall,
And in sheer envy ruin'd all!
| Lyrics: By Martin F. Tupper | |