Poems (Larcom)/Hilary

by Lucy Larcom

SEASIDE AND HILLSIDE.

HILARY.

 HILARY,
Summer calls thee, o'er the sea!
 Like white flowers upon the tide,
 In and out the vessels glide;
 But no wind on all the main
 Sends thy blithe soul home again:
Every salt breeze moans for thee,
       Hilary!

       Hilary,
Welcome Summer's step will be,
 Save to those beside whose door
 Doleful birds sit evermore
 Singing, "Never comes he here,
 Who made every season's cheer."
Dull the June that brings not thee,
       Hilary!

       Hilary,
What strange world has sheltered thee?
 Here the soil beneath thy feet
 Rang with songs, and blossomed sweet
 Still the blue skies ask of Earth,
 Blind and dumb without thy mirth,
Where she hides thy heart of glee,
       Hilary!

       Hilary,
All things shape a sigh for thee!
 O'er the waves, among the flowers,
 Through the lapse of odorous hours,
 Breathes a lonely, longing sound,
 As of something sought, unfound:
Lorn are all things, lorn are we,
       Hilary!

       Hilary!
Oh, to sail in quest of thee,
 On the trade-wind's steady tune,
 On the hurrying monsoon,
 Far through torrid seas, that lave
 Dry, hot sands,—a breathless grave.
Sad as vain the search would be,
       Hilary!

       Hilary,
Chase the sorrow from the sea!
 Summer-heart, bring summer near,
 Warm, and fresh, and airy-clear!
 Dead thou art not! dead is pain;
 Now Earth sees and sings again;
Death, to hold thee, Life must be,
       Hilary!