Oh April grass, so truly
My wish for spring divining,
Oh April sun, so gaily
In at my window shining,
What cheer can ye impart
Unto a faded heart?
Oh thoughts of Summer days
Born of the violet’s blue.
Oh wooing western wind,
That maketh all things new—
What cheer can ye impart
Unto a faded heart?
Oh mountains brown and sere,
Mantled in morning light,
Oh golden sunset sea
Wrecked on the shores of night,
What cheer can ye impart
Unto a faded heart?
Oh longings evermore
For some ungiven good,
Oh yearnings to make clear
The dimly understood,
What cheer can ye impart
Unto a faded heart?
Cover thy weary eyes
With hands too weak for prayer,
Think on the happy past,
From other thoughts forbear
Which can no cheer impart
Unto a hopeless heart.
The Roses, April 20, 1853.