The caravans of spring are in the town...

The caravans of spring are in the town,

Lighting their brilliant torches in the park,

Dangling their bells, engirdling each stark

Black tree with coloured rings. The houses frown

Against the beryl sky, yet wear a crown

Of hazy dream, or flash a golden spark

Of sun-fire in their windows glum and dark;

The people blow like petals up and down.

But London tires at evening, each grey street

Mourns as the slow procession passes by,

Traffic and crowd, and Time on loitering feet.

Spring droops his lute, the slender echoes sigh,

And wistfully the jaded revellers meet,

Their pomp in tatters and their wreaths awry.