But an old man's heart, my treasure, beats to quite another measure,
Still my sympathies, dear Spring, are with the youngsters and with you.
They are looking for love's playtime, and the merry, merry May-time,
And the popular R.A. time, and the whole tohu-bohu!
Bring the girls delights as dowry, may their social paths be flowery,
And your silver drops the only tears they need to look upon.
So they're wholesome, may they flourish; and may all Spring influence nourish
True manhood and pure womanhood, and—there, my preaching's done!
We need a true Spring Clean, sweet. Give us parks and gardens green, sweet.
And laughter, like your bird-songs pure, un-satyr-like, though clever,