O Heart Of Spring

O HEART of Spring! 
  Spirit of light and love and joyous day, 
So soon to faint beneath the fiery Summer: 
Still smiles the Earth, eager for thee alway: 
Welcome art thou, soever short thy stay, 
Thou bold, thou blithe newcomer! 
Whither, O whither this thy journeying, 
  O heart of Spring? 
 
  O heart of Spring! 
After the stormy days of Winter’s reign, 
When the keen winds their last lament are sighing, 
The Sun shall raise thee up to life again: 
In thy dim death thou shalt not suffer pain: 
Surely thou dost not fear this quiet dying? 
Whither, O whither this thy journeying, 
  O heart of Spring? 
 
  O heart of Spring! 
Youth’s emblem, ancient and unchanging light, 
Uncomprehended, unconsumed, still burning: 
Oh that we could, as thou, rise from the night 
To find a world of blossoms lilac-white, 
And long-winged swallows unafraid returning… 
Whither, O whither this thy journeying, 
  O heart of Spring?