APRIL

When April weeps, she wakes the flowers

That slept the winter through.

Oh, did they dream those frosty hours

That she would be untrue

And not awaken them in time

To smile their smiles of love,

To hear the robin's merry chime,

And gentle cooing dove?

And when they feel their mother's tears

So gently o'er them weep,

Will they tell her of their simple fears

And visions while asleep?

And will they tell her that they dreamed,

Beneath their sheets of snow,

Such weary dreamings that it seemed

The winter ne'er would go?

They'll soon be wide-awake and up,

In dainty robes arrayed,

Blue violet, gold buttercup,

And quaker-lady staid.

Wild eglantine and clustering thorn

Will grace the byway lanes,

Whilst woodland flowers the dells adorn

And daisies cheer the plains.

The rippling streamlet soon will be

A crystal mirror bright

For waving branch and mint and tree

That nod in golden light

Of summer sunbeams glad'ning rays

Filling the heart with love,

While nature and earth, uniting, praise

The God who reigns above.

In lowly spots will lilies spring

And scent the summer breeze,

And on the earth there'll be no king

Arrayed like one of these.

So weeping April's tears will bring

Her children from the tomb,

Will dress the earth in robes of spring,

Brightened by fragrant bloom.