April

Wanton with long delay the gay Spring leaping comet;

The blackthorn starreth now his bough on the eve of May:

All day in the sweet box -- tree the bee for pleasure hummeth:

The cuckoo sends afloat his note on the air all day.

Now dewy nights again and rain in gentle shower

At root of tree and flower have quenched the winter's drouth:

On high the hot sun smiles, and banks of cloud up-tower

In bulging heads that crowd for miles the dazzling south.