BLOSSOM of the almond-trees, April's gift to April's bees, Birthday ornament of spring, Flora's fairest daughterling;— Coming when no flowerets dare Trust the cruel outer air, When the royal king-cup bold Dares not don his coat of gold, And the sturdy blackthorn spray Keeps his silver for the May;— Coming when no flowerets would, Save thy lowly sisterhood, Early violets, blue and white, Dying for their love of light. Almond blossom, sent to teach us That the spring days soon will reach us, Lest, with longing over-tried, We die as the violets died,— Blossom, clouding all the tree With thy crimson broidery, Long before a leaf of green On the bravest bough is seen,— Ah! when winter winds are swinging All thy red bells into ringing, With a bee in every bell, Almond bloom, we greet thee well! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...CHILD MARGARET by CARL SANDBURG TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA by ROBERT SEYMOUR BRIDGES THE USE OF FLOWERS by MARY HOWITT SILEX SCINTIALLANS: THEY ARE ALL GONE by HENRY VAUGHAN THE LEAF by ANTOINE VINCENT ARNAULT PEARLS OF THE FAITH: 26. AL-MUZIL by EDWIN ARNOLD THE METAMORPHOSIS OF THE WALNUT-TREE OF BOARSTELL: ECLOGUE by WILLIAM BASSE |