The Lilacs

The Lilacs

Alfred Lambourne

Behold, fair Spring doth ope the lilac buds;

And 0, for words that choice and dainty be,

To tell how memory my being floods,

The dreams of youth this fragrance brings to me!

What line shall this exquisiteness suggest,

The whitened edge, the flush within the cell,

A hidden glow like vermil hues that rest

Deep in the cold heart of a tropic shell.

With moisture strange, the lilacs fill mine eyes,

A gladsome dew that gathers into tears;

Entranced I stand, lost in a sweet surprise,

While joys divine come back from out the years.

Here child-like innocence and passion blend;

The rapture of the Prime keeps in the hours;

These clusters treasure bring me without end;

I feel myself once more in Eden's bowers.

Ah, quick; ah, quick, my irised visions fade,

My dreamland palace all in ruin lies!

With you, O lilacs, I have backward strayed

To Hope of youth and April-weeping skies.

.iiiiiiiiniiiiiii 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 [ 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 m 1 1 1 1 1 r < i r i > m 1 1 imiimiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimmiiiiiiiii