Classic Poem

Is this a time to be cloudy and sad,
— When our mother Nature laughs around;
When even the deep blue heavens look glad,
— And gladness breathes from the blossoming ground?

There are notes of joy from the hang-bird and wren,
— And the gossip of swallows through all the sky;
The ground-squirrel gaily chirps by his den,
— And the wilding bee hums merrily by.

The clouds are at play in the azure space
— And their shadows at play on the bright-green vale,
And here they stretch to the frolic chase,
— And there they roll on the easy gale.

There's a dance of leaves in that aspen bower,
— There's a titter of winds in that beechen tree,
There's a smile on the fruit, and a smile on the flower,
— And a laugh from the brook that runs to the sea.

And look at the broad-faced sun, how he smiles
— On the dewy earth that smiles in his ray,
On the leaping waters and gay young isles;
— Ay, look, and he'll smile thy gloom away.