Poems (Argent)/Early Spring in London
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
EARLY SPRING IN LONDON.
SWEET Spring that droppest from the skies
Crowned with a sun of glory,
I see a thousand myriad dyes
Bathe deep the world so hoary.
Crowned with a sun of glory,
I see a thousand myriad dyes
Bathe deep the world so hoary.
And sudden from the budding trees
A murmur born of gladness,
Comes like the sound of far-off seas,
Half pleasure and half sadness.
A murmur born of gladness,
Comes like the sound of far-off seas,
Half pleasure and half sadness.
And in the time-worn dusty street,
The turmoil of the city,
Thou glidest on thine aerial feet
With eyes of God-like pity.
The turmoil of the city,
Thou glidest on thine aerial feet
With eyes of God-like pity.
The flower girls gather thick and strong
"Neath baskets heavy laden,
Within each blossom lies a song
Heard by the town-bred maiden.
"Neath baskets heavy laden,
Within each blossom lies a song
Heard by the town-bred maiden.
Beneath the monumental stone
The arch of marble beauty,
The gurgling fountain breathes a tone
Of love, and faith and duty!
The arch of marble beauty,
The gurgling fountain breathes a tone
Of love, and faith and duty!
And where the smoky shadows lie
Thick through the noisome alley,
One meets beneath an alien sky
The lily of the valley.
Thick through the noisome alley,
One meets beneath an alien sky
The lily of the valley.
There, purely white, its blossoms shed
From out their leafy cover,
A fond remembrance for the dead,
Or, fairy gift for lover.
From out their leafy cover,
A fond remembrance for the dead,
Or, fairy gift for lover.
"O buy, O buy whate'er you will,
Sweet lilybells or pansy,"
A maiden calls,—and calm and still
Her voice wins on your fancy.
Sweet lilybells or pansy,"
A maiden calls,—and calm and still
Her voice wins on your fancy.
Sweet Spring! the grand old city feels
Your blue eyes bend above her,
Across your noble front she steals
Until you truly love her.
Your blue eyes bend above her,
Across your noble front she steals
Until you truly love her.
And glancing idly on the tide
With crested waves enfolden,
The stately swans swim side by side
On through the lilies golden,
With crested waves enfolden,
The stately swans swim side by side
On through the lilies golden,
And past historic mansions dim
Half hid in ivy tresses,
Where fleeting song-birds fleet and slim
From sylvan tendernesses,
Half hid in ivy tresses,
Where fleeting song-birds fleet and slim
From sylvan tendernesses,
Alight on turret, dome and spire,
From haunted lone recesses,
Swift catching from the sunset's fire
A glow of soft caresses.
From haunted lone recesses,
Swift catching from the sunset's fire
A glow of soft caresses.
Great Paul booms out the hour of ten,
I hear his voice sonorous,
Loud mingling with the march of men
In one tumultuous chorus!
I hear his voice sonorous,
Loud mingling with the march of men
In one tumultuous chorus!
The good old Abbey firm and fast
Stands like a giant bolden,
What victories of mind have passed
Within its portals olden.
Stands like a giant bolden,
What victories of mind have passed
Within its portals olden.
And on the mighty bridge that spans
The river wide, stupendous,
One marvels at the work of man's
Huge force and power tremendous!
The river wide, stupendous,
One marvels at the work of man's
Huge force and power tremendous!
Sweet Spring that lets her beauty slip
Upon the girlish faces,
That pass with sunny smile on lip
And dainty wealth of graces.
Upon the girlish faces,
That pass with sunny smile on lip
And dainty wealth of graces.
And still through countless ages rolls
Life's folly and its fashions,
Its precious freight of human souls
Their mysteries and passions!
Life's folly and its fashions,
Its precious freight of human souls
Their mysteries and passions!
Yet once again Spring's gladness streams
In all her wonted splendour,
Filling the human heart with dreams
And memories, sweet and tender!
In all her wonted splendour,
Filling the human heart with dreams
And memories, sweet and tender!