_The Silver Thaw_

There came a day of showers Upon the shrinking snow; The south wind sighed of flowers, The softening skies hung low. Midwinter for a space Foreshadowing April’s face, The white world caught the fancy, And would not let it go.

In reawakened courses The brooks rejoiced the land; We dreamed the Spring’s shy forces Were gathering close at hand. The dripping buds were stirred, As if the sap had heard The long-desired persuasion Of April’s soft command.

But antic Time had cheated With hope’s elusive gleam; The phantom Spring, defeated, Fled down the ways of dream. And in the night the reign Of winter came again, With frost upon the forest And stillness on the stream.

When morn in rose and crocus Came up the bitter sky, Celestial beams awoke us To wondering ecstasy. The wizard Winter’s spell Had wrought so passing well, That earth was bathed in glory, As if God’s smile were nigh.

The silvered saplings, bending, Flashed in a rain of gems; The statelier trees, attending, Blazed in their diadems. White fire and amethyst All common things had kissed, And chrysolites and sapphires Adorned the bramble-stems.

In crystalline confusion All beauty came to birth; It was a kind illusion To comfort waiting earth-- To bid the buds forget The Spring so distant yet, And hearts no more remember The iron season’s dearth.