"The Coming of Spring"

The Coming of Spring

Once more Spring’s dear, remembered thrill

        The winter’s heart went through―

Out came the willow silverly

        And white the shad-bush blew.

A voice went thro’ the emerald land

        And “Wake, wake, Robin,” cried;

A brook burst out in laughter sweet,

        And straight the winter sighed.

The gay wild-currant saucily

        Came stepping out in red―

A dear, delicious light-o’-love,

        With blushes overspread.

A little meadow that I know

        Ran suddenly to gold,

Till every lifted buttercup

        Had more than it could hold.

The yellow finches perched and sang

        Their few notes sweet and loud,

Or drifted up against the blue―

        A bright, melodious cloud.

But oh, but oh, the meadow-lark!

        And oh, the song he sang!

All rapture, passion, tenderness

        Ached thro’ me while it rang.

And as I listening bowed my head

        To hide the springing tear,

Lo, all about me―violets!

        And Spring herself was here.

"The Coming of Spring" as it appears in Ella Higginson's When the Birds Go North Again (1898).