Sings any bird, or any wind
Amid thy falling leaves?
Why is it, if thou look’st behind,
Thy heart forever grieves?
L’ENNUI
OH April grass, so truly
My wish for spring divining,
Oh April sun, so gaily
In at my window shining,
What cheer can ye impart
Unto a faded heart?
Oh thoughts of Summer days
Born of the violet’s blue.
Oh wooing western wind,
That maketh all things new—
What cheer can ye impart
Unto a faded heart?
Oh mountains brown and sere,
Mantled in morning light,
Oh golden sunset sea
Wrecked on the shores of night,
What cheer can ye impart
Unto a faded heart?
Oh longings evermore
For some ungiven good,
Oh yearnings to make clear
The dimly understood,
What cheer can ye impart
Unto a faded heart?
Cover thy weary eyes
With hands too weak for prayer,
Think on the happy past,
From other thoughts forbear
Which can no cheer impart
Unto a hopeless heart.