Four Springtimes Lost: And In The Fifth We Stand

Four springtimes lost: and in the fifth we stand, here in this quiet hour of glory, still, while o'er the bridal land the westering sun dwells in untroubled gold, a bridegroom proud of his permitted will, whom grateful rapture suffers not be bold, but tender now and bland his amber locks and bended gaze are shed, brimming, above the couch'd and happy clime: all is content and ripe delight, full-fed. And as your fingers brush my hand so too the winning time would charm me from regretful reverie that keeps me somewhat sad, remembering — not the old woodland days, for thou art near and hold'st them safely hid to rise and shine again, when waning skies shall bid — but later dawns o' the year, away from thee liv'd thro', even here, and golden embraces of the light-hearted time when I was sad at heart, remembering the clear enchantments of our single year, our woodland prime of love, its violet-budded vow, receding ever now farther and farther down the past, a gleam that turns to softest pearl the luminous haze drifting between in from the golden days when I was sad at inmost heart, remembering thee and the woodland season of bright laughter: — so in my perverse and most loitering dream (O fading, fading days!) each season claims the homage due, long after its glory has faded to an outcast thing.