Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE APRIL RAIN, by ELIZABETH OAKES PRINCE SMITH


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE APRIL RAIN, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The april rain! The april rain!
Last Line: In your pure and healthful play.
Alternate Author Name(s): Smith, Seba (e. Oakes), Mrs.; Oakes-smith, Elizabeth
Subject(s): April; Rain


THE April rain! the April rain!
I hear the pleasant sound,
Now soft and still, like gentle dew,
Now drenching all the ground.
Pray tell me why an April shower
Is pleasanter to see
Than falling drops of other rain?
I'm sure it is to me.

I wonder if 't is really so,
Or only Hope, the while,
That tells of swelling buds and flowers
And Summer's coming smile:
Whate'er it is, the April shower
Makes me a child again;
I feel a rush of youthful blood,
As falls the April rain.

And sure, were I a little bulb,
Within the darksome ground,
I should love to hear the April rain
So softly falling round;
Or any tiny flower were I,
By Nature swaddled up,
How pleasantly the April shower
Would bathe my hidden cup!

The small brown seed that rattled down
On the cold autumnal earth,
Is bursting from its cerements forth,
Rejoicing in its birth;
The slender spears of pale green grass
Are smiling in the light;
The clover opes its folded leaves,
As though it felt delight.

The robin sings on the leafless tree,
And upward turns his eye,
As if he loved to see the drops
Come filtering down the sky;
No doubt he longs the bright green leaves
About his home to see,
And feel the swaying summer winds
Play in the full-robed tree.

The cottage door is open wide,
And cheerful sounds are heard;
The young girl sings at the merry wheel
A song like the wildwood bird;
The creeping child by the old worn sill
Peers out with winking eye,
And his ringlets parts with his chubby hand,
As the drops come spattering by.

With bounding heart beneath the sky
The truant boy is out,
And hoop and ball are darting by,
With many a merry shout;
Ay, shout away, ye joyous throng!
For yours is the April day;
I love to see your spirits dance,
In your pure and healthful play.





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