"April"

April

Ah, who is this with twinkling feet, 

With glad, young eyes and laughter sweet, 

Who tosses back her strong, wild hair, 

And saucy kisses flings to Care, 

The while she laughs at her? Beware― 

You who this winsome maiden meet! 

She dances on a daisied throne, 

About her waist a slender zone 

Of dandelion's gold; her eyes 

Are softer than the summer skies, 

And blue as violets; and lies 

A tearful laughter in her tone. 

She reaches dimpled arms and bare; 

Her breath is sweet as wild-rose air; 

She sighs, she smiles, she glances down, 

Her brows meet in a sudden frown; 

She laughs; then tears the violets drown― 

If you should meet her―ah, beware! 

"April" as it appears in Ella Higginson's When the Birds Go North Again (1898).