Classic Poem

1

And is Spring come again to cheer,
The withered winter of the year? —
The grass to feed the hungry kine, —
The flowers to please those eyes of thine?

2

The daisey tempts the playful lamb,
To crop its silver bloom;
The golden pilewort tempts the child,
For many a flower to come.

3

The tree's first foliage tells the child
The sweet approach of Spring:
The white-thorn leaves of tender green,
Where linnets build and sing.

4

The rose, — there is a rose of May,
Though not the sweetest rose;
But Spring will have the sweetest day,
And the fairest flower that blows.

5

What is it? — search the fields, and find, —
No garden owns the flower; —
It is the blossom of the mind!
The joy of every hour.

6

The birds are preachers! — bush and tree
Are pulpits all around, —
Where shining flowers and droning bee,
As listeners gather round.

7

The vine trees open into leaf,
How beautiful they are!
How lovely doth each tendril curl,
Like some Greek maiden's hair.

8

The fountain from its bed of sand,
Boils up and curls away;
It runs, and so it will run on,
Through summers lasting day.

9

The footpath winding all the way,
We trace it near a mile,
Through closes green, and fallows grey,
O'er many a gate and stile.

10

Grass on each side, and wild field flowers,
And children running on,
Crop many a one and think them fair,
Till half the day is gone.

11

There's many a butterfly to chase,
With meal upon its wing;
Till summer comes and spoils the sport
With children and the Spring!