Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ODE TO SPRING, by MARCUS S. C. RICKARDS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ODE TO SPRING, by                    
First Line: Hark! Did ye hear them - the rumours afloat
Last Line: Bird-like to sing mid its own fragrant bower!
Subject(s): Beauty; Earth; Love; Spring; World


HARK! did ye hear them -- the rumours afloat
Of her near advent? Yon gossiping trees
Murmured it then -- while that robin's clear note
Preached a soft gospel, retold by the breeze:
Steal on, sweet Spring!
Each wistful thing
Knows the glad secret -- descend on bright wing!

Glance like a sunbeam whose life-giving ray
Slants thro' the mist to unchain fettered Earth!
Flash her to freedom, as on the set day
Prisoners are lit to new life, hope, and mirth!
Field, wood, and stream
Gild with thy gleam!
Flush them with beauty like love in a dream!

Lighten grey Earth till her slumbering face
Wears a new glory, as when some dark soul
Wakes to self-knowledge, or glows with rare grace
Born of the fire that from Heaven she has stole;
Or lends due scope
To some faint hope,
Potent a world of delight to unope!

Greet patient Earth with a lingering kiss!
Long has she looked for thy promised return,
As a girl sighing for sisterly bliss
Peers from afar a faint form to discern.
Let each fair face
Fondly embrace,
While all stand 'mazed at such ravishing grace.

People dull Earth, as a genius his theme,
Fertile in blossom and life at his spell!
Paint her as when a true artist his dream
Seeks on bare canvas divinely to tell,
Till the world pause,
In rapt applause,
At the rare charm of the picture he draws!

Bid silent Earth with new music resound!
As a lorn minstrel, whose tuneful heart thrills
To passion glances, sheds melody round
Fraught with sweet echoes that faint in far hills.
Mate all the lone;
Each with its own
Chiming Love's paean in manifold tone!

Hasten, bright Fairy! unfetter my heart;
Rouse it from slumber; caress it to health;
Throng it with beautiful thoughts and impart
To its fresh dreams Colour's loveliest wealth;
Quicken its dower;
Lend it new power
Bird-like to sing mid its own fragrant bower!





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