Poems (Kimball)/Love's Visitation

by Harriet McEwen Kimball

LOVE'S VISITATION.

WAS ever yet the world so fair!
 The long, sweet day! the tender night!
A fragrant thrill pervades the air—
 Spring's ever newly waked delight.

It floods the azure realm above;
 It quickens all the sod below;
It is the very soul of Love,
 And song and bloom its overflow.

No living thing unconscious named
 But knows the depth of this delight,
And filled with joy and unashamed
 Leaves joy to fashion joy aright.

The bluebird's note is all his own;
 The thrush one matchless song repeats;
And murmurs Love translates alone
 Hint how the brooding dove-heart beats.

At eve the stars grow dim with dreams;
 At morn the wandering waysides blush;
More sweet the brook's low babble seems,
 Wed with the woodland's happy hush.

Beneath the sapphire-gleaming arch
 Like mated swans the white clouds sail;
And consciously yon lovely latch
 Lets down her swaying vernal veil.

And picturing scenes where lance and spur
 For Love their utmost valor spent,
Lo! in the fields a golden stir—
 The dandelions' tournament.

As on the wings of old romance
 The pageant of the fields shall pass;
Where now the golden flowers glance
 Pale phantoms float across the grass.

But each returning Spring of time
 Love—Love shall still be born anew;
The spirit of an heavenly clime
 Crown earth with bridal bloom and dew.