Hymn To Spring. Poem by Samuel Bamford

Sweet bringer of new life,
Welcome thou hither!
Though with thee comes the strife
Of changeful weather.
Oh! young and coldly fair,
Come with thy storm-blown hair.
Down casting snow-pearls fair,
For earth to gather!

Approachest thou in shower?
Mist hath enroll'd thee,
Till, changed by viewless power,
Bright we behold thee!
Whilst chilling gales do fly,
Then wanderest meekly by
Green holme and mountain high,
Till shades enfold thee.

By dusky woodland side,
Silent thou rovest;
Where lonely rindles glide,
Unheard thou movest;
Wide-strewing buds and flowers,
By fields, and dells, and bowers,
'Mid winds and sunny showers,
Bounteous thou provest.

Though ever changeful, still
Ever bestowing;
The earth receives her fill
Of thy good sowing;
And lo! a spangled sheen
Of herbs and flowers between,
Blent with the pasture green,
All beauteous growing!

Now comes the driven hail,
Rattling and bounding;
A shower doth next prevail;
Thunder astounding!
Until the glorious sun
Looks through the storm-cloud dun—
And, as the light doth run,
Glad tones are sounding.

The throstle tunes his throat,
On tall bough sitting;
The ouzel’s wizard note
By dingle flitting;
The lov'd one, too, is there,
Above his snow-fringed lair—
He sings, in sun-bright air,
Carol befitting.

Come ev'ry tone of joy!
Add to the pleasure;
Sweet robin's melody
Joins in the measure:
And echoes wake and sing,
And fairy-bells do ring,
Where silver bubbles fling
Their sparkling treasure.

The hazel bloom is hung
Where beams are shining;
The honey-bine hath clung,
Garlands entwining,
For one who wanders lone
Unto that bower unknown
And finds a world, his own,
Pure joys combining.

Then, bringer of new life,
Welcome thou hither;
And welcome, too, the strife
Of changeful weather!
Oh! ever young and fair,
Cast from thy storm-blown hair
Bright drops, and snow-pearls fair
For earth to gather!