Forth Spring! The vernal breaths of sunny lands
O'er earth diffuse. The bursting bud expands,
And welcome leaves, lured by the sunlight sheen,
To lustful bask spread forth their cheerful green.
The sprinkled dew of eve or morning showers
Allure the opening bloom of verdant flowers;
The fields revive, blue bird and redbreast sing,
The nibbling flocks rejoice, and valleys ring.
The golden bloom of dandelion wild,
Bedecks the field and nods to zephyrs mild;
And incense-breathing flowers on yon slope,
Of vine-clad hill, their sweetest censers ope.
Pleasant the orchards are, all blossomed fair;
And sweet the redolence of morning air;
And beautiful the sight, when, with the day,
Golden and crimson break the clouds away.
Hark, that sweet carol! cadences sublime!
Lo, 'tis a mocking bird! his amorous chime
Of melody enchants all nature round,
And yonder rocks, his sounding board, resound.
Or poised upon some cedar twig he swings,
Or winnows th' buxom air, his music rings:
On snow-tip pinions spread, along he flies,
His descant sounds the blue ethereal skies.