"After the swallow All sweet things follow: All things go their way, Must not follow : good by swallow, good swallow." Then listless Marian raised her head Among the nodding sheaves; Her voice was sweeter than that voice; All wondered while they heard her sing 66 Deeper than the hail can smite, Deep asleep through day and night, "Now thy sleep no pang can break, No to-morrow bid thee wake, "Is it dark or light below? O, but is it cold like snow? Dost thou feel the green things grow Fast or slow? "Is it warm or cold beneath, If he comes to-day He will find her weeping; If he comes to-morrow He will find her sleeping; If he comes the next day He'll not find her at all, He may tear his curling hair, Beat his breast and call. A YEAR'S WINDFALLS. N the wind of January ON Down flits the snow, Travelling from the frozen North As cold as it can blow. Poor robin redbreast, Look where he comes; Let him in to feel your fire, And toss him of your crumbs. On the wind in February Snow-flakes float still, Half inclined to turn to rain, Then the thaws swell the streams, And swollen rivers swell the sea: If the winter ever ends How pleasant it will be. In the wind of windy March Curious green and brown. With concourse of nest-building birds We begin to think of flowers And life and nuts some day. With the gusts of April Rich fruit-tree blossoms fall, Shed petals white or pink, While sharp showers sink and sink. Little brings the May breeze Beside pure scent of flowers, While all things wax and nothing wanes In lengthening daylight hours. Across the hyacinth beds The wind lags warm and sweet, Across the hawthorn tops, Across the blades of wheat. In the wind of sunny June On the blast of scorched July From thunderous lightning-clouds, that blot Sea-things strange to sight Gasp upon the barren shore In the parching August wind, On low hills outspread. In brisk wind of September The heavy-headed fruits Shake upon their bending boughs And drop from the shoots; Some glow golden in the sun, Some show green and streaked Some set forth a purple bloom, Some blush rosy-cheeked. In strong blast of October Stirred up in his hollow bed Broad ocean rocks; Plunge the ships on his bosom, Leaps and plunges the foam, It's O for mothers' sons at sea, That they were safe at home! In slack wind of November Loosened from their sapless twigs Leaves drop with every gust; Drifting, rustling, out of sight Last of all, December, The year's sands nearly run, |