SLOW SPRING
As the day lengthens, the year strengthens.
Strengthen, young year!
Grow strong and handsome, gallant and winsome,
Comely and dear.
Strengthen, young year!
Grow strong and handsome, gallant and winsome,
Comely and dear.
Gray days shall hold you, sweet days shall fold you,
Till there shall come
The wind-flowers dancing, the tulips glancing,
The swallows home.
Till there shall come
The wind-flowers dancing, the tulips glancing,
The swallows home.
The nests not yet in the grass are set
For larks in the sky
To love you madly and hail you gladly,
Hail you and die.
For larks in the sky
To love you madly and hail you gladly,
Hail you and die.
The rose-tree shows not a trace of the rose
That shall crown your head.
The leaves are furled in a silent world
Till your word be said.
That shall crown your head.
The leaves are furled in a silent world
Till your word be said.
O year, grow slowly. Exquisite, holy,
The days go on
With almonds showing the pink stars blowing,
And birds in the dawn.
The days go on
With almonds showing the pink stars blowing,
And birds in the dawn.
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