EASTER BELLS.
Lent was dreary and late that year;
April to May was going;
But the loitering moon refused to round,
And the wild south-east was blowing.
April to May was going;
But the loitering moon refused to round,
And the wild south-east was blowing.
Day by day, from my window high,
I watched, a lonely warder,
For a building bird in the garden-trees
Or a flower in the sheltered border.
I watched, a lonely warder,
For a building bird in the garden-trees
Or a flower in the sheltered border.
But I only heard the chilly rain
On the roof of my chamber beating,
Or the wild sea-wind to the tossing boughs
Its wail of wreck repeating;
On the roof of my chamber beating,
Or the wild sea-wind to the tossing boughs
Its wail of wreck repeating;
And said, "Ah me! 'tis a weary world
This cheerless April weather;
The beautiful things will droop and die,
Blossom and bird together."
This cheerless April weather;
The beautiful things will droop and die,
Blossom and bird together."
At last the storm was spent. I slept,
Lulled by the tired wind's sighing,—
To wake at morn with the sunshine full
On floor and garden lying;
Lulled by the tired wind's sighing,—
To wake at morn with the sunshine full
On floor and garden lying;