SPRING IN OXFORD STREET

A dash of rain on the pavement,

In the air a gleam of sun,

And the clouds are white, and rolling high

From Marble Arch all down the sky

— And that's the spring begun!

The sky is all a-shining

With sunniest blue and white,

The flags are streaming out full cry

As the crisp North wind comes bustling by,

And all the roofs are bright.

And all the shops and houses

Of sunlit Oxford Street,

— Pearl behind amber, gold by rose —

To grey the long perspective goes;

Till all the houses meet.

And there, in every gutter,

The glory of spring flowers

The whole long street with colour fills,

And across the yellow daffodils

Sharp sunshine and soft showers.

And among the drabs and greys and browns

Of folk going to and fro

Are trays of violets, darkly bright,

And yellow, like the spring moon's light,

Pale primrose-bunches show.

There's blue in every puddle,

And every pane of glass

Has a thousand little dancing suns,

— And up and down the glad news runs,

That spring has come to pass.