Spring! thy impatient bloom restrain, <br />Nor wake so soon thy genial pow'r, <br />For, deeds of death must hail thy reign, <br />And clouds of fate around thee low'r. <br />Alas! not all thy store of charms <br />For patriot hearts can comfort find, <br />Or lull to peace the dread alarms <br />Which rack the friends of human kind. <br />In vain thy balmy breath to me <br />Scents with its sweets the ev'ning gale; <br />In vain the violet's charms I see, <br />Or fondly mark thy primrose pale. <br />To me thy softest zephyrs breathe, <br />Of sorrow's soul-distracting tone, <br />To me thy most attractive wreath <br />Seems ting'd with human blood alone. <br />Arrest thy steps, thou source of love, <br />Thou genial friend of joy and life <br />Let not thy smile propitious prove <br />To works of carnage, scenes of strife. <br />Bid Winter all his frowns recall, <br />And back his icy footsteps trace; <br />Again the soil in frost inthrall, <br />And check the War-fiend's murd'rous chace. <br />Ah, fruitless pray'r! thy hand divine <br />MUST on the teeming season lead, <br />And (contrast dire!) at War's red shrine <br />Must bid unnumber'd victims bleed. <br />But not in vain—if on this hour <br />The fate of Freedom shall depend— <br />If o'er this earth th' Eternal Pow'r <br />The scale of Justice now extend. <br />For then, O Spring, thy sun shall see <br />The patriot flame triumphant shine; <br />GALLIA shall bid the world be free, <br />And WAR his blood-stain'd throne resign!<br /><br />Amelia Opie<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/ode-written-on-the-opening-of-the-last-campaign/
