Sidney Lanier translates a German poem into a gentle, musical reverie where spring arrives not as a sight or a scent, but as a sound — a faint, fairy-like bell chiming deep in the speaker’s soul. The feeling is delicate and almost magical, as if winter’s sadness is lifted by something utterly light and fleeting. There’s a bittersweet joy here: the song-of-life is lovely, but the speaker knows it won’t last. The mood stays airy and intimate throughout, especially when the speaker sends this little chime riding the spring winds all the way home, asking it to find a rose just beginning to bloom and deliver a personal greeting. It’s less a shouted celebration than a whispered message carried from a heart softened by the season’s beauty, reaching toward someone — or something — cherished.
Spring Greeting — Summary
From the German of Herder.
All faintly through my soul to-day, As from a bell that far away Is tinkled by some frolic fay, Floateth a lovely chiming. Thou magic bell, to many a fell And many a winter-saddened dell Thy tongue a tale of Spring doth tell, Too passionate-sweet for rhyming.
Chime out, thou little song of Spring, Float in the blue skies ravishing. Thy song-of-life a joy doth bring That's sweet, albeit fleeting. Float on the Spring-winds e'en to my home: And when thou to a rose shalt come That hath begun to show her bloom, Say, I send her greeting!