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<h2>Spring</h2>
<p class="poetry"><span class="smcap">Hark</span> how the merry
daffodils,<br/>
Fling golden music to the hills!<br/>
And how the hills send echoing down,<br/>
Through wind-swept turf and moorland brown,<br/>
The murmurs of a thousand rills<br/>
That mock the song-birds’ liquid trills!<br/>
The hedge released from Winter’s frown<br/>
Shews jewelled branch and willow crown;<br/>
While all the earth with pleasure trills,<br/>
And ‘dances with the daffodils.’</p>
<p class="poetry">Out, out, ye flowers! Up and shout!<br/>
Staid Winter’s passed and Spring’s about<br/>
To lead your ranks in joyous rout;<br/>
To string the hawthorn’s milky pearls,<br/>
And gild the grass with celandine;<br/>
To dress the catkins’ tasselled curls,<br/>
To twist the tendrils of the vine.<br/>
She wakes the wind-flower from her sleep,<br/>
And lights the woods with April’s moon;<br/>
The violets lift their heads to peep,<br/>
The daisies brave the sun at noon.</p>
<p class="poetry">The gentle wind from out the west<br/>
Toys with the lilac pretty maids;<br/>
Ruffles the meadow’s verdant-vest,<br/>
And rings the bluebells in the glades;<br/>
The ash-buds change their sombre suit,<br/>
The orchards blossom white and red—<br/>
Promise of Autumn’s riper fruit,<br/>
When Spring’s voluptuousness has fled.<br/>
Awake! awake, O throstle sweet!<br/>
And haste with all your choir to greet<br/>
This Queen who comes with wakening feet.</p>
<p class="poetry">Persephone with grateful eyes<br/>
Salutes the Sun—’tis Paradise:<br/>
Then hastens down the dewy meads,<br/>
Past where the herd contented feeds,<br/>
Past where the furrows hide the grain,<br/>
For harvesting of sun and rain;<br/>
To where Demeter patient stands<br/>
With longing lips and outstretched hands,<br/>
Until the dawning of one face<br/>
Across the void of time and space<br/>
Shall bring again her day of grace.<br/>
Rejoice, O Earth! Rejoice and sing!<br/>
This is the promise of the Spring,<br/>
And this the world’s remembering.</p>
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