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Henry Van Dyke - Spring In The NorthHenry Van Dyke - Spring In The North
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I Ah, who will tell me, in these leaden days, Why the sweet Spring delays, And where she hides,—the dear desire   Of every heart that longs For bloom, and fragrance, and the ruby fire Of maple-buds along the misty hills, And that immortal call which fills   The waiting wood with songs? The snow-drops came so long ago,   It seemed that Spring was near!   But then returned the snow With biting winds, and earth grew sere,   And sullen clouds drooped low To veil the sadness of a hope deferred: Then rain, rain, rain, incessant rain   Beat on the window-pane, Through which I watched the solitary bird That braved the tempest, buffeted and tossed With rumpled feathers down the wind again.   Oh, were the seeds all lost When winter laid the wild flowers in their tomb?   I searched the woods in vain For blue hepaticas, and trilliums white, And trailing arbutus, the Spring`s delight, Starring the withered leaves with rosy bloom.   But every night the frost To all my longing spoke a silent nay, And told me Spring was far away. Even the robins were too cold to sing, Except a broken and discouraged note,— Only the tuneful sparrow, on whose throat Music has put her triple finger-print, Lifted his head and sang my heart a hint,— "Wait, wait, wait! oh, wait a while for Spring!" II But now, Carina, what divine amends For all delay! What sweetness treasured up,   What wine of joy that blends A hundred flavours in a single cup, Is poured into this perfect day! For look, sweet heart, here are the early flowers   That lingered on their way, Thronging in haste to kiss the feet of May, Entangled with the bloom of later hours,— Anemones and cinque-foils, violets blue And white, and iris richly gleaming through The grasses of the meadow, and a blaze Of butter-cups and daisies in the field,   Filling the air with praise, As if a chime of golden bells had pealed!   The frozen songs within the breast Of silent birds that hid in leafless woods,   Melt into rippling floods   Of gladness unrepressed. Now oriole and bluebird, thrush and lark, Warbler and wren and vireo, Mingle their melody; the living spark Of love has touched the fuel of desire, And every heart leaps up in singing fire.   It seems as if the land Were breathing deep beneath the sun`s caress,   Trembling with tenderness,   While all the woods expand, In shimmering clouds of rose and gold and green, To veil a joy too sacred to be seen. III   Come, put your hand in mine, True love, long sought and found at last, And lead me deep into the Spring divine   That makes amends for all the wintry past. For all the flowers and songs I feared to miss     Arrive with you; And in the lingering pressure of your kiss   My dreams come true; And in the promise of your generous eyes   I read the mystic sign   Of joy more perfect made   Because so long delayed, And bliss enhanced by rapture of surprise. Ah, think not early love alone is strong; He loveth best whose heart has learned to wait: Dear messenger of Spring that tarried long, You`re doubly dear because you come so late.
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