The Sweet O' the Year

The upland hills are green again; The river runs serene again; All down the miles Of orchard aisles The pink-lip blooms are seen again; To garden close And dooryard plot Come back the rose And bergamot.

The ardent blue leans near again; The far-flown swallow is here again; To his thorn-bush Returns the thrush, And the painted-wings appear again. In young surprise The meadows run All starry eyes To meet the sun.

Warm runs young blood in the veins again, And warm loves flood in the rains again. Earth, all aflush With the fecund rush, To her Heart's Desire attains again; While stars outbeat The exultant word— "Death's in defeat, And Love is Lord."