So the breath of these rude days January gray is here, Like a sexton by her grave; March, with grief, doth howl and rave; And April weeps-but, O ye hours! Follow with May's fairest flowers. PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY, 1792-1822. ON OBSERVING A BLOSSOM ON THE FIRST OF FEBRUARY. Sweet flower! that peeping from thy russet stem, This dark, frieze-coated, hoarse, teeth-chattering month SAMUEL T. COLeridge, 1770-1849. FEBRUARY. Dip down upon the northern shore, What stays thee from the clouded noons, Bring orchis-bring the fox-glove spire, O thou new year, delaying long, ALFRED TENNYSON. MARCH. The stormy March is come at last, With wind, and cloud, and changing skies; Ah, passing few are they who speak, For thou to northern lands again The glad and glorious sun dost bring, And thou hast joined the gentler train, And wear'st the gentle name of Spring. And in thy reign of blast and storm Smiles many a long, bright, sunny day, When the changed winds are soft and warm, And heaven puts on the blue of May. Then sing aloud the gushing rills, And the full springs, from frost set free, The year's departing beauty hides A look of kindly promise yet. Thou bring'st the hope of those calm skies, Seems of a brighter world than ours. W. C. BRYANT. APRIL. All day the low hung clouds have dropped All day that soft gray mist hath wrapped There has not been a sound to-day Of waving bough, or warbling bird, I could have half believed I heard For leafy thickness is not yet Earth's naked breast to screen, Though every dripping branch is set With shoots of tender green. Sure, since I looked at early morn, These honeysuckle buds Have swelled to double growth; that thorn Hath put forth larger studs; That lilac's cleaving cones have burst, The milk-white flowers revealing; Even now upon my senses first, Methinks their sweets are stealing The very earth, the steaming air, And grace and beauty everywhere Down, down they come-those fruitful stores! Those earth-rejoicing drops! A momentary deluge pours, Then thins, decreases, stops. And ere the dimples on the stream, |