The Life of Earth 27 



THE LIFE OF EARTH 



The Spring s life breathes in the air amid the snows ; 



The Spring s pulse beats beneath the eager sun s ray ; 

 Pliant and yellow and mellow the willow bark grows ; 



The beechen buds listen and glisten and think of May ; 



Sweet at the forest s cool verge there steals a scent, 

 A scent that is tender and intimate, yet not bold 



To quarrel and rival the pine, but still has lent 



A freedom that whispers and smiles amid the cold. 



The knolls are bare and the mosses are freshly green, 

 The wintergreen berries redden and spice the view, 



Where the pulse of the young year s heart is sensibly seen 

 As arbutus blushes peep from their sleep anew. 



This is the grace of the Spring New England knows, 

 The arbutus rathe and blithe, that wins to its side 



The earliest ardour the sun can give to the snows, 

 The perfume that promises all the dear spring-tide. 



