Saturday 25 February 2012

Spring's Immortal Hour, Béal Feirste


© Copyright Joe ÓNéill

Crocus In Bloom, Belfast Waterworks


THE CROCUS
Harriet Beecher Stowe


.
.. Around the soft, green swelling mound
We scooped the earth away,

And buried deep the crocus-bulbs
Against a coming day.
"These roots are dry, and brown, and sere;
Why plant them here?" he said,
"To leave them, all the winter long,
So desolate and dead."

"Dear child, within each sere dead form
There sleeps a living flower,
And angel-like it shall arise
In spring's returning hour."
Ah, deeper down cold, dark, and chill
We buried our heart's flower,
But angel-like shall he arise
In spring's immortal hour. ...