And the great little loss of death's decay,

Will tell you all that happened yesterday.

Don't you recall, dear, how the fierce blow came?

Earth was at Spring-tide, all the fields aflame;

Hope was just freed from Winter's servitude

And songsters through the tree-tops he had strewed,

And promises of greenness in the wood,

While you, dear, grew in grace to womanhood."

Then you: "I would remember if I could,

But all is vague. Faint, like a far off strain,