THE NEW SPRING

The long grief left her old — and then

Came love and made her young again

As though some newer, gentler Spring

Should start dead roses blossoming;

Old roses that have lain full long

In some forgotten book of song,

Brought from their darkness to be one

With lilting winds and rain and sun;

And as they too might bring away

From that dim volume where they lay

Some lyric hint, some song's perfume

To add its beauty to their bloom,

So love awakes her heart that lies

Shrouded in fragrant memories,

And bids it bloom again and wake

Sweeter for that old sorrow's sake.