Poems (Hazlett-Bevis)/Listen

by Sophia Courtoulde Hazlett-Bevis

Listen.

They are coming, don't you hear them,
 All the whispers in the air;
The sounds of bird, and bee and wave,
 And the sunny days so fair?

Don't you hear the roses whisper,
 At the root of parent stem,
"I must hasten with my fragrance,
 And fling out my love emblem?"

And the violet and crocus,
 How they stir the yielding mould,
With their earnest little pushing,
 As their heads they soon will hold

Above the earth and grasses,
 With a dainty perfume rare,
As nodding to their sisters
 Wood-anemone so fair.

The waters will rush by them
 In frantic leap and play;
Leaves will rustle, birds will warble
 All the livelong summer day.

And the heart of man keeps throbbing
 To the tune that's in the air,
For he knows the days are coming
 That will bring to him a share

Of the light and shade and beauty,
 Earth dispenses free to all;
The happy days of summer—
 How we echo their recall.

Come bird, come bee, come blossom;
 Laughing river, sing your song;
Sunlight, soften all your glances,
 As you join the happy throng.