SPRING

First came the rain, loud, with sonorous lips;

A pursuivant who heralded a prince:

And dawn put on a livery of tints,

And dusk bound gold about her hair and hips:

And, all in silver mail, then sunlight came,

A knight, who bade the winter let him pass,

And freed imprisoned beauty, naked as

The Court of Love, in all her wildflower shame.

And so she came, in breeze-borne loveliness,

Across the hills; and heav'n bent down to bless:

Before her face the birds were as a lyre;

And at her feet, like some strong worshiper,

The shouting water paean'd praise of her,

Who, with blue eyes, set the wild world on fire.