XVI. SPRING MORNING

By Alfred Edward Housman

Star and coronal and bell

April underfoot renews,

And the hope of man as well

Flowers among the morning dews.

Now the old come out to look,

Winter past and winter's pains.

How the sky in pool and brook

Glitters on the grassy plains.

Easily the gentle air

Wafts the turning season on;

Things to comfort them are there,

Though‘ tis true the best are gone.

Now the scorned unlucky lad

Rousing from his pillow gnawn

Mans his heart and deep and glad

Drinks the valiant air of dawn.

Half the night he longed to die,

Now are sown on hill and plain

Pleasures worth his while to try

Ere he longs to die again.

Blue the sky from east to west

Arches, and the world is wide,

Though the girl he loves the best

Rouses from another's side.