WRITTEN ON THE FIRST LEAF OF A LADY'S ALBUM. <br /> <br />Thou fragile, filmy, gossamery thing, <br />First leaf of spring! <br />At every lightest breath that quakest, <br />And with a zephyr shakest; <br />Scarce stout enough to hold thy slender form together <br />In calmest halcyon weather: <br />Next sister to the web that spiders weave, <br />Poor flutterers to deceive <br />Into their treacherous silken bed: <br />O! how art thou sustained, how nourishëd! <br />All trivial as thou art, <br />Without dispute, <br />Thou play'st a mighty part; <br />And art the herald to a throng <br />Of buds, blooms, fruit, <br />That shall thy cracking branches sway, <br />While birds on every spray <br />Shall pay the copious fruitage with a sylvan song. <br />So 'tis with thee, whoe'er on thee shall look, <br />First leaf of this beginning modest book. <br />Slender thou art, God knowest, <br />And little grace bestowest, <br />But in thy train shall follow after, <br />Wit, wisdom, seriousness, in hand with laughter; <br />Provoking jests, restraining soberness, <br />In their appropriate dress; <br />And I shall joy to be outdone <br />By those who brighter trophies won, <br />Without a grief, <br />That I thy slender promise have begun, <br />First leaf. <br /> <br />1832.<br /><br />Charles Lamb<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-first-leaf-of-spring/
