SPRING AND WINTER. HEN daisies pied, and violets blue, Do paint the meadows with delight, Cuckoo, cuckoo,-O word of fear, When shepherds pipe on oaten straws, And merry larks are ploughmen's clocks, When turtles tread, and rooks, and daws, And maidens bleach their summer smocks, The cuckoo then, on every tree, Mocks married men, for thus sings he, Cuckoo; Cuckoo, cuckoo, -O word of fear, Unpleasing to a married ear! When icicles hang by the wall, And Dick the shepherd blows his nail, And milk comes frozen home in pail, Tu-whit, to-who, a merry note, And Marian's nose looks red and raw, Tu-whit, to-who, a merry note, STATELY Spring! whose robe-folds are valleys, whose breast-bouquet is gardens, and whose blush is a vernal evening. Where toil shall call the charmer health his bride, How thou wouldst toss thy heels in gamesome play, SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE. |