An April Day

5I love the season well,

6When forest glades are teeming with bright forms,

7Nor dark and many-folded clouds foretell

8The coming-on of storms.

9From the earth's loosened mould

10The sapling draws its sustenance, and thrives;

11Though stricken to the heart with winter's cold,

12The drooping tree revives.

13The softly-warbled song

14Comes from the pleasant woods, and colored wings

15Glance quick in the bright sun, that moves along

16The forest openings.

17When the bright sunset fills

18The silver woods with light, the green slope throws

19Its shadows in the hollows of the hills,

20And wide the upland glows.

21And when the eve is born,

22In the blue lake the sky, o'er-reaching far,

23Is hollowed out and the moon dips her horn,

24And twinkles many a star.

25Inverted in the tide

26Stand the gray rocks, and trembling shadows throw,

27And the fair trees look over, side by side,

28And see themselves below.

29Sweet April! many a thought

30Is wedded unto thee, as hearts are wed;

31Nor shall they fail, till, to its autumn brought,

32Life's golden fruit is shed.