I Did Not Know (1898)
by Abbie Farwell Brown
186803I Did Not Know1898Abbie Farwell Brown

          I did not know—
And it was but a few short days ago—
  How near to spring, it was; the world lay still
  In all the bitter cold of winter chill;
Yet even then the May-buds with the glow
Of burning lips pressed to the melting snow
  Had kissed themselves a window, to the sky,—
          And spring was nigh.

          I did not know—
Ah, was it such a little while ago!—
  Within my heart how near it was to spring;
  I did not guess the blessed blossoming,
Until this gladsome morn I woke, and lo!
Sweet with new fragrance does the whole world grow
  From that so fair and snow-sprung flower dear,—
          And spring is here!

This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1929.


The longest-living author of this work died in 1927, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 96 years or less. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.

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