Spring — Summary

A short, musical chant that ushers in spring with a child’s open-hearted joy. The speaker calls on birds, children, and a lamb to join a chorus of welcome. Even before the flute can sound, the nightingale and lark fill the air; a little boy and girl add their merry voices; and a soft lamb is kissed and stroked. The lines bounce like a nursery rhyme, mixing birdsong, crowing cocks, and the “infant noise” of happy children. The speaker’s direct invitations — “Here I am,” “Let me kiss” — make the poem feel like a game everyone can play. There is no distance between the speaker and the world, just a gentle trust as a child pulls the lamb’s wool and offers a white neck to be licked. The repeated refrain, “Merrily, merrily, to welcome in the year,” turns the whole poem into a dance. The mood is light, affectionate, and carefree, like an early spring morning when everything feels fresh and the only natural response is song.