Her Smile of Cheer and Voice of Song — Anna Harris Randall
Spring fails, in all its bravery of brilliant gold and green,—
The sun, the grass, the leafing tree, and all the dazzling scene
Of dewy morning—orchard blooms,
And woodland blossoms and perfumes
With bird-songs sown between.
Yea, since she smiles not any more, so every flowery thing
Fades, and the birds seem brooding o’er her silence as they sing—
Her smile of cheer and voice of song
Seemed so divinely to belong
To ever-joyous Spring!
Nay, still she smiles.—Our eyes are blurred and see not through our tears:
And still her rapturous voice is heard, though not of mortal ears:—
Now ever doth she smile and sing
Where Heaven’s unending clime of Spring
Reclaims those gifts of hers.