Erotica/Spring

by Arthur Clark Kennedy

Spring

Unchain your heart, cast off the bands
Imposed by social customs' care,
By laws of man. Be free as air—
Shake off those so-called friendly hands

That hold you back from following
The dictates Nature planted there,
List to her voice within your ear!
"Awake and love, it is the Spring."

My Love, awake. It is the Spring!
Let all the envious world roll by,
Above us bends the bright blue sky
Where mounts the lark on fluttering wing

The distant cooing of the dove,
The blackbird, linnet, finch and thrush,
In madrigals from every bush
And varied accents, say "We love."

'Tis good to live, 'tis good to love—
God's greatest gift, so freely given,
To man below, foretaste of heaven
Has come to us, let us then prove

Its golden value in the scales
'Gainst earthly gold. The merest dross
And tinsel seems earth's gold. The loss
Of all the world holds dear avails

Nothing against such perfect wealth
As we in Love's own land to-day
Gather with both hands. Let us pray
That Love walk hand in hand with Health.

Health is for Love a fitting mate,
And on such guardian's rainbow wings
We well may pass Earth's fiery rings
And smile contempt on sordid Fate.