LENT was dreary and late that year; April to May was going; But the loitering moon refused to round, And the wild southeast was blowing. Day by day, from my window high, I watched, a lonely warder, For a building bird in the garden-trees Or a flower in the sheltered border. But I only heard the chilly rain On the roof of my chamber beating, Or the wild sea-wind to the tossing boughs Its wail of wreck repeating; And said, 'Ah me! 'tis a weary world This cheerless April weather; The beautiful things will droop and die, Blossom and bird together.' At last the storm was spent. I slept, Lulled by the tired wind's sighing, — To wake at morn with the sunshine full On floor and garden lying; And lo! the hyacinth buds were blown; A robin was blithely singing; The cherry-blooms by the wall were white, And the Easter bells were ringing! It was long ago, but the memory lives; And in all life's Lenten sorrows, When tempests of grief and trouble beat And I dread the dark to-morrows, I think of the garden after the rain; And hope to my heart comes singing, 'At morn the cherry-blooms will be white, And the Easter bells be ringing!' | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE INCOGNITA OF RAPHAEL by WILLIAM ALLEN BUTLER THE BLACK RIDERS: 1 by STEPHEN CRANE FOR THE BAPTIST by WILLIAM DRUMMOND OF HAWTHORNDEN DOUGLASS by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR GOOD NIGHT by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR A STORM IN THE DISTANCE (AMONG THE GEORGIAN HILLS) by PAUL HAMILTON HAYNE PEACE PICTURES by ELIZABETH I. BARNES NORTHERN CALIFORNIA NIGHT (STRAITS OF CARQUINEZ) by WILLIAM ROSE BENET |