TWINS

April, on whose wings

Ride all gracious things,

Like the star that brings

All things good to man,

Ere his light, that yet

Makes the month shine, set,

And fair May forget

Whence her birth began,

Brings, as heart would choose,

Sound of golden news,

Bright as kindling dews

When the dawn begins;

Tidings clear as mirth,

Sweet as air and earth

Now that hail the birth,

Twice thus blest, of twins.

In the lovely land

Where with hand in hand

Lovers wedded stand

Other joys before

Made your mixed life sweet:

Now, as Time sees meet,

Three glad blossoms greet

Two glad blossoms more.

Fed with sun and dew,

While your joys were new,

First arose and grew

One bright olive-shoot:

Then a fair and fine

Slip of warm-haired pine

Felt the sweet sun shine

On its leaf and fruit.

And it wore for mark

Graven on the dark

Beauty of its bark

That the noblest name

Worn in song of old

By the king whose bold

Hand had fast in hold

All the flower of fame.

Then, with southern skies

Flattered in her eyes,

Which, in lovelier wise

Yet, reflect their blue

Brightened more, being bright

Here with life's delight,

And with love's live light

Glorified anew,

Came, as fair as came

One who bore her name

( She that broke as flame

From the swan-shell white ),

Crowned with tender hair

Only, but more fair

Than all queens that were

Themes of oldworld fight,

Of your flowers the third

Bud, or new-fledged bird

In your hearts’ nest heard

Murmuring like a dove

Bright as those that drew

Over waves where blew

No loud wind the blue

Heaven-hued car of love.

Not the glorious grace

Even of that one face

Potent to displace

All the towers of Troy

Surely shone more clear

Once with childlike cheer

Than this child's face here

Now with living joy.

After these again

Here in April's train

Breaks the bloom of twain

Blossoms in one birth

For a crown of May

On the front of day

When he takes his way

Over heaven and earth.

Half a heavenly thing

Given from heaven to Spring

By the sun her king,

Half a tender toy,

Seems a child of curl

Yet too soft to twirl;

Seems the flower-sweet girl

By the flower-bright boy.

All the kind gods’ grace,

All their love, embrace

Ever either face,

Ever brood above them:

All soft wings of hours

Screen them as with flowers

From all beams and showers:

All life's seasons love them.

When the dews of sleep

Falling lightliest keep

Eyes too close to peep

Forth and laugh off rest,

Joy from face to feet

Fill them, as is meet:

Life to them be sweet

As their mother's breast.

When those dews are dry,

And in day's bright eye

Looking full they lie

Bright as rose and pearl,

All returns of joy

Pure of time's alloy

Bless the rose-red boy,

Guard the rose-white girl.