Blackwood's Magazine/Volume 1/Issue 2/Lines written in Spring 1812

Lines
Written in Spring—1812.

Redeemed from Winter's deadening reign,
The joyful year revives again;
And flings, with rule-rejecting mirth,
Her gladdening glories o'er the earth.
Through her full veins the transports run,
And hark! the woodland hymn's begun—
From the close-foliaged grove the thrill
Comes softened up the breezy hill,
With ceaseless bleat, and frequent low,
And mountain-rivulets' dashing flow,
And all the stir and din below.

—The blent, but soon selected, call
Of man, who loves and blesses all,
With kingly accent, sweet though high,
Completes the full-toned harmony.
Its thorns are in my breast—yet still
I love this Earth with all its ill!
Though lone and heartless in the strife,
I dread the long fatigue of life—
And none to whom 'twere sweet to say,
"These heavens how bright! this earth how gay!"
With meeting soul and kindred mood
Endear the charms of solitude—
Though every hour has on its wing
A sadder tear, a sharper sting—
And balm and blessing were in vain—
This friendless heart was formed for pain.