The Winter Solstice scarce is past, Loud is the wind, and hoarsely sound The mill-streams in the swelling blast, And cold and humid is the ground[;] When, to the ivy, that embowers Some pollard tree, or sheltering rock, The troop of timid warblers flock, And shuddering wait for milder hours. While thou! the leader of their band, Fearless salut'st the opening year; Nor stay'st, till blow the breezes bland That bid the tender leaves appear: But, on some towering elm or pine, Waving elate thy dauntless wing, Thou joy'st thy love notes wild to sing, Impatient of St. Valentine! Oh, herald of the Spring! while yet No harebell scents the woodland lane, Nor starwort fair, nor violet, Braves the bleak gust and driving rain, 'Tis thine, as thro' the copses rude Some pensive wanderer sighs along, To soothe him with thy cheerful song, And tell of Hope and Fortitude! For thee then, may the hawthorn bush, The elder, and the spindle tree, With all their various berries blush, And the blue sloe abound for thee! For thee, the coral holly glow Its arm'd and glossy leaves among, And many a branched oak be hung With thy pellucid missletoe. Still may thy nest, with lichen lin'd, Be hidden from the invading jay, Nor truant boy its covert find, To bear thy callow young away; So thou, precursor still of good, O, herald of approaching Spring, Shalt to the pensive wanderer sing Thy song of Hope and Fortitude. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ON THE DEATH OF MR. CRASHAW by ABRAHAM COWLEY FOR LACK OF GOLD by ADAM AUSTIN EN TOUR; A SONG SEQUENCE: 1. THE GARGOYLE by ALBERTA BANCROFT SONNETS OF MANHOOD: 14. 'I LOVE THEE' by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) THE BOTTOM DRAWER by AMELIA EDITH HUDDLESTON BARR RAINY SEASON by HARRIET GRAY BLACKWELL |