PUSSY WILLOW.
BEFORE THE BLUEBIRD WINGS ITS WAY
TO NORTHERN GLADE AND DELL,
THERE COMES A DEAR AND HAPPY DAY
WHEN BUDS BEGIN TO SWELL.
PERHAPS THEY SEE (WE KNOW NOT HOW)
SOME SECRET, BECKONING SIGN,
FOR SOON ON EVERY WILLOW BOUGH
THE SILVERY CATKINS SHINE.
BY SINGING STREAMS SO LATELY DUMB
THE MERRY CHILDREN SHOUT,
(O, JOYFUL NEWS) "THE SPRING HAS COME!
THE PUSSY WILLOW'S OUT!"
PERIWINKLE.
GARLANDED WITH GLOSSY LEAVES,
PERIWINKLE SITS AND WEAVES
A BOWERY SCREEN;
BLOSSOMS, BLUE AS NOONDAY SKIES,
THRO' ITS LATTICE BARS ARISE
OR PEER BETWEEN.
PERIWINKLE, COULD WE HEAR
ALL THE SOUNDS THAT FILL THINE EAR
FOR ONE SHORT HOUR,
WE SHOULD KNOW HOW GRASSES GROW,
HEAR THE RUSH OF STREAMS THAT FLOW
THRO' LEAF AND FLOWER.
