In the winter, flowers are springing; <br />In the winter, woods are green, <br />Where our banished birds are singing, <br />Where our summer sun is seen! <br />Our cold midnights are coeval <br />With an evening and a morn <br />Where the forest-gods hold revel, <br />And the spring is newly born! <br /> <br />While the earth is full of fighting, <br />While men rise and curse their day, <br />While the foolish strong are smiting, <br />And the foolish weak betray- <br />The true hearts beyond are growing, <br />The brave spirits work alone, <br />Where Love's summer-wind is blowing <br />In a truth-irradiate zone! <br /> <br />While we cannot shape our living <br />To the beauty of our skies, <br />While man wants and earth is giving- <br />Nature calls and man denies- <br />How the old worlds round Him gather <br />Where their Maker is their sun! <br />How the children know the Father <br />Where the will of God is done! <br /> <br />Daily woven with our story, <br />Sounding far above our strife, <br />Is a time-enclosing glory, <br />Is a space-absorbing life. <br />We can dream no dream Elysian, <br />There is no good thing might be, <br />But some angel has the vision, <br />But some human soul shall see! <br /> <br />Is thy strait horizon dreary? <br />Is thy foolish fancy chill? <br />Change the feet that have grown weary <br />For the wings that never will. <br />Burst the flesh, and live the spirit; <br />Haunt the beautiful and far; <br />Thou hast all things to inherit, <br />And a soul for every star.<br /><br />George MacDonald<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/in-the-winter-2/
