The young horse whinneys to his mate, Longing for freedom on the moor. The small birds think their wants are o'er, Nor longer to his elbow comes, To peck, with hunger's eager joy, 'Mong mossy stulps the litter'd crumbs. 'Neath hedge and walls that screen the wind, From out their hiding-holes again, With feeble pace, they often creep Along the sun-warm'd window-pane, Like dreaming things that walk in sleep. The mavis thrush with wild delight, The sunbeams on the hedges lie, The south wind murmurs summer-soft; The maids hang out white cloths to dry Around the elder-skirted croft: A calm of pleasure listens round, Thus nature of the spring will dream Will eke their icy tails at night Beneath the chilly stars and moon. SPRING. THE SOote season, that bud and bloom forth brings, Like an army defeated On the top of the bare hill; The ploughboy is whooping-anon-anon: Small clouds are sailing, Blue sky prevailing; The rain is over and gone! W. Wordsworth. SPRING. Now that the winter's gone, the earth hath lost The drowsy cuckoo and the humble bee. T. Carew. THE STARLINGS. EARLY in spring time, on raw and windy mornings, Beneath the freezing house-eaves I heard the starlings sing— 'Ah dreary March month, is this then a time for building wearily? Sad, sad, to think that the year has but begun.' Late in the autumn, on still and cloudless evenings, Among the golden reed-beds I heard the starlings sing 'Ah that sweet March month, when we and our mates were courting merrily: Sad, sad, to think that the year is all but done.' SPRING. FROST-LOCKED all the winter, Seeds, and roots, and stones of fruits, That they may put forth shoots? Tips of tender green, Leaf, or blade, or sheath; Telling of the hidden life That breaks forth underneath, Life nursed in its grave by Death. Blows the thaw-wind pleasantly, Drips the soaking rain, By fits looks down the waking sun: Young grass springs on the plain; Young leaves clothe early hedgerow trees; Seeds, and roots, and stones of fruits, Swollen with sap put forth their shoots; C C. Kingsley. |