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EUTHANASIA, by                    
First Line: Beyond the far horizon, many - hilled
Last Line: As weary winter lays him down to die?
Subject(s): Death; Euthanasia; Life; Old Age; Winter; Dead, The


BEYOND the far horizon, many-hilled,
There glows a rosy light upon the year —
A flashing message, and the woods have thrilled
With the glad promise of long-looked-for cheer,
Age-old, yet ever new as it draws near:
A fluttering of soft wings the frost had chilled,
A trumpeting within the gentling sky,
A chanting in the meadows, many rilled
By soft, sweet showers the heavens have distilled,
As weary Winter lays him down to die.

A dropping of brown leaves that autumn killed,
A whisper of dry rushes at the weir,
A murmurous rustle that has long been stilled,
Where sibilant grasses lift their slender spear
Some shrinking snow-bank now to fright and fleer;
And all the embattled weeds that toiled and drilled
Against the north winds that they durst not fly,
Put down the arms through which the gales have shrilled,
Leaving a nest whereon their children build,
As weary Winter lays him down to die.

Now doth the herald dandelion gild
Some warm bright corner with his sunny gear;
Now hath the robin joyous music trilled
Upon the quickening branches, etched and clear
Against a firmament clean stripped of fear;
Now doth the fertile field, so long untilled,
Grow tender green with promise fine and high,
Glistening with the dews soft clouds have spilled
That earth's fair prophecy may be fulfilled
As weary Winter lays him down to die.

L'Envoi

O Nature, Mother Nature, sweetly skilled
In life and love, let not sweet Spring go by
Unheeding; hast thou not for me, too, willed
An April soul, a heart with May-bloom filled,
As weary Winter lays him down to die?





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