The Literary Gazette, 3rd March 1827, page 139
ORIGINAL POETRY.
BIRTHDAY IN SPRING.
The sights and the sounds of loveliness
Are abroad upon the earth;
And flower looks smiling on flower, as each
Had a share in the other's mirth.
A thousand songs from a thousand boughs
The glad birds' pleasure declare;
The rills are laughing in crystal light—
For the presence of Spring is there.
Like a purple cloud that has left the west,
Is yon bank with its violet crowd—
With the green leaves drooped o’er each scented urn,
Like Love o'er its secret bowed.
And this was the time when I was born—
The time of the song and flower:
Why had not such sweet influence charm
On the star of my natal hour?
That first spring has been the only one
The year of my life has known;
And that, with a short and blighted reign,
Soon abandon'd its sunny throne.
As the birds, the flowers, and the showers of spring,
Are the heart's hopes, joys, and tears:
But my birds were caged, my hopes so checked,
That their nature turned to fears.
One after one, my flowers declined,
Till there was left my Spring,
Over the bitter waters of life
Not one green leaf to fling.
My showers grew storms—the fount of tears
In my desert heart grew dry;
And left me a sneer, or masking smile,
And a cold and careless eye.
