ONCE more the changed year's turning wheel returns; And as a girl sails balanced in the wind, And now before and now again behind Stoops as it swoops, with cheek that laughs and burns,-- So Spring comes merry towards me here, but earns No answering smile from me, whose life is twin'd With the dead boughs that winter still must bind, And whom to-day the Spring no more concerns. Behold, this crocus is a withering flame; This snowdrop, snow; this apple-blossom's part To breed the fruit that breeds the serpent's art. Nay, for these Spring-flowers, turn thy face from them, Nor stay till on the year's last lily-stem The white cup shrivels round the golden heart. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...DEJECTION: AN ODE by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE TO A CHILD DURING SICKNESS by JAMES HENRY LEIGH HUNT TO DOCTOR EMPIRIC by BEN JONSON PICTURES FROM APPLEDORE: 2 by JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL LUKE HAVERGAL by EDWIN ARLINGTON ROBINSON THE HOUSE OF LIFE: 90. 'RETRO ME, SATHANA!' by DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI I DID NOT ASK OF LIFE by ALICE BAKER |