almond blossom

 ALMOND BLOSSOM

by Edwin Arnold

Blossom of the almond-trees,
April's gift to April's bees.
Birthday ornament of spring.
Flora's fairest daughterling;--
Coming when no flowerets dare
Trust the cruel outer air ;
When the royal king-cup bold
Dares not don his coat of gold ;
And the sturdy blackthorn spray
Keeps his silver for the May;--
Coming when no flowerets would,
Save thy lowly sisterhood.
Early violets, blue and white.
Dying for their love of light.
Almond blossom, sent to teach us
That the spring-days soon will reach us,
Lest, with longing over-tried.
We die as the violets died--
Blossom, clouding all the tree
With thy crimson broidery,
Long before a leaf of green
On the bravest bough is seen ;
Ah ! when winter winds are swinging
All thy red bells into ringing,
With a bee in every bell.
Almond bloom, we greet thee well.