In the Sunshine
IT was spring-time, but not the early spring;
April had wept her blue eyes clear again,
And happy children tumbled in the grass,
And little fingers forged a daisy chain,
In whose slight fetters willing captives lay;
While older children watched the pretty play
With smiling toleration in their eyes,
Who pares the same game last year—now too wise!
The scentless later violets grew by scores,
Untouched, no hand had cared to gather them;
Wild hyacinths were bluer than the skies,
The wind-flower danced upon its slender stem;
A foot above the ground the young corn stood,
And over all was poured a golden flood
Of warm May sunshine—in its radiant light
The whole world seemed transfigured to the sight.
Beneath a chestnut, pelted by the shower
Of milk-white blossom, which a gentle breeze
Shook lightly from the branches, over-ripe,
I lay in perfect ecstasy of ease.
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