Spring In Absence Poem by Maria Frances Cecilia Cowper

Nature her gifts is bringing
To deck the fields anew,
And all the birds are singing,
And all the skies are blue,

And all the land is gay, love.
And all the world is glad,
But thou art far away, love,
And I alone am sad.

What though the earth be learning
The gladness of the Spring,
If all my heart is yearning
For her it cannot bring.

'What though the Spring be giving
The best of all the year,
There is no joy of living
If Helen be not here.

Could we but roam together
The leafy woods of June,
In bright or cloudy weather,
The world were all in tune.

But now the night is dreary,
And dreary is the day,
And ah ! my heart is weary,
My love is far away.

Come back, my love, and cheer me,
And drive away my care ;
'Tis Spring when thou art near me.
And everything is fair.

Thy smile can bring the May, love,
That smile I know so well,
Can turn the night to day, love,
And make a Heaven of Hell.