Early Snowdrops
NO snow had fallen all the winter thro',
The trees were budding in the early year,
Beguiled by sunshine that was almost Spring.
The thrushes built their nests before the time,
And twittered cheerily the whole day long;
Buds grew to leaves, as if to shelter them.
February's skies had April's tender grace,
When lo! the fields were white, as if with snow,
And all the woods and gardens and hedgerows.
Single, in clusters, opened flower and bud,
The snowdrops bloomed: the world was white with them,
Half hidden in a snowstorm of snowdrops.
O pleasant Winter! when in place of storms
Of sudden snow, by cruel North winds driven,
There fell a tender rain of snow-white flowers.
For rather they seemed thrown down from above,
A gracious gift, bestowed by angel hands,
Than grown up from the dark and wintry earth.
