| |
| A NIGHT of spring on valley and on height! | |
| The first that follows on chill winter-tide. | |
| The mild south wind is roused again to flight, | |
| The gentle billows of his breathing glide | |
| Into the deeps of earth, so dark as night, | 5 |
| And dwell where still and secret beings hide | |
| Which yon blue stream of light can never show | |
| That from the island of the moon doth flow. | |
| |
| The deep is not the realm of death alone. | |
| Of life-seeds there a host of millions lies. | 10 |
| From grubs, so pale and weak and bloodless grown, | |
| Soon legions of them, armed in mail, will rise, | |
| Who still in caves, dark chambers of their own, | |
| Are dwelling like a shadow-folk. Surmise | |
| Of its salvation has begun to grow | 15 |
| Upon the restless little world below. | |
| |
| Now that the breath of May its greeting brings, | |
| Come, let us hark to what they do and say. | |
| For resurrections to the beat of wings | |
| Each clod of earth a coffin is to-day. | 20 |
| Now from the earth-born heavenly courage springs; | |
| Within them life’s sweet poison works away | |
| That with delirious longing makes them pine | |
| For worlds far distant from their own confine. | |
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