THEFIRSTLEAFOFSPRING

thefirstleafofspring

writtenonthefirstleafofalady'salbum

thoufragile,filmy,gossamerything,

firstleafofspring!

ateverylightestbreaththatquakest,

andwithazephyrshakest;

scarcestoutenoughtoholdthyslenderformtogether,

incalmesthalcyonweather;

nextsistertothewebthatspidersweave,

poorfluttererstodeceive

intotheirtreacheroussilkenbed:

o!howartthousustained,hownourishèd!

alltrivialasthouart,

withoutdispute,

thouplay'stamightypart;

andarttheheraldtoathrong

ofbuds,blooms,fruit,

thatshallthycrackingbranchessway,

whilebirdsoneveryspray

shallpaythecopiousfruitagewithasylvansong.

so'tiswiththee,whoe'erontheeshalllook,

firstleafofthisbeginningmodestbook.

slenderthouart,godknowest,

andlittlegracebestowest,

butinthytrainshallfollowafter,

wit,wisdom,seriousness,inhandwithlaughter;

provokingjests,restrainingsoberness,

intheirappropriatedress;

andishalljoytobeoutdone

bythosewhobrightertrophieswon;

withoutagrief,

thatithyslenderpromisehavebegun,

firstleaf.

1832.