Spring.
Cheerless the day and wintry, gray and chill ;1
No gleam of sun ; no breath of balmy air ;2
Within the woods the trees stand gaunt and bare,3
Around them Winter’s desolation still ;4
But yet, within those bare and leafless trees,5
Though all unseen, do hidden life-germs lurk,6
Astir, each hour, in silent ceaseless work ;7
And on the chilly wind there faintly breathes8
A whisper of bright days to come ere long,9
When wood and field in beauty shall be clad,10
And rich and full shall rise the joyous song11
Of birds ; and hope anew makes all men glad,12
One balmy breath the Winter’s charm to break,13
And Nature from her long cold sleep will wake !14