April's Charms

When April scatters coins of primrose gold Among the copper leaves in thickets old, And singing skylarks from the meadows rise, To twinkle like black stars in sunny skies ;

When I can hear the small woodpecker ring Time on a tree for all the birds that sing ; And hear the pleasant cuckoo, loud and long — The simple bird that thinks two notes a song ;

When I can hear the woodland brook, that could Not drown a babe, with all his threatening mood; Upon whose banks the violets make their home, And let a few small strawberry blossoms come :

When I go forth on such a pleasant day, One breath outdoors takes all my care away ; It goes like heavy smoke, when flames take hold Of wood that's green, and fills a grate with gold.