Spring and Gladness

All around

           the aching shadows

                             sift their gloomy apparitions

              over winter's sorrowing hills.

The rain falls in great teardrops.

               The wind moans a mourning song,

the glory seemingly departed

                       from this forsaken land.

           But look-there-

on the pale line

          of the misty horizon

                      the gray mist vanishes-

                             with tender drops of sunlight.

          Silently now, the light hushes over the barren earth

pushing away the deep-settled darkness

                        with her warm hands of spring.

            The birds rejoice, in glad, hopeful voices.

      The flowers burst from their sleeping womb-

All around is spring and gladness

 and rest.