Flowers at Easter

A ROSY sunbeam glides the maid,
While youngling flowers are waving round her ;
Earth in flower-songs conveyed,
Silent songs, the joy that found her,
Awaking from the sleep that bound her ;
Rapture fills both shine and shade.
Souls we love, like flowers, have broken
From our dim dreamland's wildering prison ;
With One, the fairest, earliest token
Of our immortal life, have risen.

Soft eyes within the woodland scene,
Dewy, gleaming, open stilly,
Violet, bird, celandine,
Anemone, primrose, lentlily.

Winter was the nursing-time
For bird, for delicate leaf or flower ;
Souls lie darkling now, their prime
Yet lingers ; full-unfolding power
Will weave the amaranthine bower
That heareth low ethereal chime.