<h3 id="Spring_in_Nazareth">Spring in Nazareth</h3>
<p>“THE Spring is come!” a shepherd saith;<br/>
<i>Sing, sweet Mary,</i><br/>
“The Spring is come to Nazareth<br/>
And swift the Summer hurrieth.”<br/>
<i>Sing low, the barley and the corn!</i></p>
<p>Across the field a path is set—<br/>
<i>Sing, sweet Mary,</i><br/>
Green shadow in a golden net—<br/>
The tears of night have left it wet.<br/>
<i>Sing low, the barley and the corn!</i></p>
<p>The Babe forsakes His mother’s knee,<br/>
<i>Haste, sweet Mary—</i><br/>
See how He runneth merrily,<br/>
One foot upon the path hath He—<br/>
<i>Green, green, the barley and the corn!</i></p>
<p>The mother calls with mother-fear—<br/>
<i>Hush, sweet Mary!</i><br/>
Another sound is in His ear,<br/>
A sound he cannot choose but hear—<br/>
<i>Hush, hush, the barley and the corn!</i></p>
<p>Far and still far—through years yet dim<br/>
<i>List, sweet Mary!</i><br/>
From o’er the waking earth’s green rim<br/>
Another Springtime calleth Him!<br/>
<i>Bend low, the barley and the corn!</i></p>
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<p>Call low, call high, and call again,<br/>
<i>Ah, poor Mary!</i><br/>
Know, by thy heart’s prophetic pain,<br/>
That one day thou shalt call in vain—<br/>
<i>Moan, moan, the barley and the corn!</i></p>
<p>O mother! make thine arms a shield,<br/>
<i>Sing, sweet Mary!</i><br/>
While love still holds what love must yield<br/>
Hide well the path across the field!—<br/>
<i>Sing low, the barley and the corn!</i></p>
<p>. . . . .</p>
<p>“The Spring is come!” a shepherd saith;<br/>
<i>Rest thee, Mary—</i><br/>
The passing years are but a breath<br/>
And Spring still comes to Nazareth—<br/>
<i>Green, green, the barley and the corn!</i></p>
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