PROMISE 



N this most ancient orchard the old trees 

 stand disposed irregularly, and where 

 veterans have passed away their places 

 are filled by young, supple plants, whose 

 youthful bearing, trim uprightness, and aspiring 

 attitude contrast with the gnarled patriarchs around 

 them, and with those intermediate bearers, now 

 grown to full vigour of life and splendour of fruition. 

 Here the aged and the adult mingle with the young, 

 as in human colonies. I breathe life from the 

 abundance around me ; I win hope from all this 

 promise ; and heart out of the music and the colour. 

 A million petals gleam and red buds sparkle ; the 

 sun-lances dart everywhere ; the song of the birds 

 does not drown the under-song of those little glimmer- 

 ing myriads busy in each open flower about the vital 

 matter of honey and bee-bread. 



May has resigned her sceptre, and it is June; but 

 May departed gloriously, made a noble end in music, 

 and passed with promise. 



Beneath this orchard there spreads a carpet woven 

 of many greens, of sunlight, and spring flowers. 



83 



