THREE SONGS OF AWAKENING

The flowers spring from the broken heart,

Of the frozen winter sod —

Rending their prison bars apart,

They smile in the face of God!

The birds sweep up to the wind-blown plain,

E'er ever the land knows spring;

To sway on a budding branch again,

To challenge the world, and sing!

And I with my tired eyes a-dance,

And my weary heart a-flame;

Have felt the call of the old romance,

And thrilled to a whispered name!

I saw a sky as blue as eyes I know,

I felt a breeze, as soft as kisses, blow;

And, dear, I saw one golden sunbeam creep

From Heaven, lighting all the world below,

Like love that wakens, dewy-eyed, from sleep!

We who have wondered know the answer, now;

For Spring stands, joyous, on the purple brow

Of the far hill; and doubt is swept away,

And all the mirth-mad world makes holiday!