When piped the love-warm throstle shrill, <br />And all the air was laden <br />With scent of dew and daffodil, <br />I saw a youth and maiden, <br />Whose colour, Spring-like, came and fled, <br />'Mong purple copses straying, <br />While birchen tassels overhead <br />Like marriage-bells kept swaying; <br />Filled with that joy that lingers still, <br />Which Eve brought out of Aiden,- <br />With scent of dew and daffodil <br />When all the air was laden. <br /> <br />When primrose banks turn pale and fade, <br />And meads wax deep and golden, <br />And in lush dale and laughing glade <br />Summer's gay Court is holden, <br />Them, nestling close, again I saw, <br />Affianced girl and lover, <br />She looking up with eyes of awe <br />To burning gaze above her; <br />Playing anew the part oft played, <br />Sung by the poets olden,- <br />When primrose banks turn pale and fade, <br />And meads wax deep and golden. <br /> <br />When autumn woods began to glow, <br />And autumn sprays to shiver, <br />Once more I saw them walking slow, <br />By sedgy-rustling river. <br />The season's flush was on her cheek, <br />The season's sadness o'er him: <br />He stroked her hand, and bade her speak <br />Of all the love she bore him. <br />That only made her tears to flow, <br />And chill his heart to quiver,- <br />While autumn woods began to glow, <br />And autumn sprays to shiver. <br /> <br />When winter fields stretched stiff and stark, <br />And wintry winds shrilled eerie, <br />I saw him creep, alone, at dark, <br />Into the churchyard dreary. <br />He laid him down against the stone, <br />'Neath which she aye lay sleeping, <br />Kissed its cold face with many a moan, <br />Then loudly fell a-weeping: <br />``Oh! let me in from lonely cark, <br />Or come thou back, my dearie!''- <br />But the wintry fields stretched stiff and stark, <br />And the wintry winds shrilled eerie!<br /><br />Alfred Austin<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-golden-year/
