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II Linked half with Summer, half with Winter’s snows, Spring trips in laughter thro’ the land,: Snowdrops of March and glad June’s budding rose Blend with the violets in her hand. III The dying snowdrop tells of Winter dead And rough winds that are lulled asleep; Within the rosebud’s slowly darkening red Young Summer’s hope lies hidden deep. IV Between them both Spring intertwines her hair With her own violets, white and blue – Standing like those sweet music-notes that bear A memory and a promise too. V Thus may for us life’s seasons, more and ever more, Each unto each be knit alway, And the bright After and the bright Before Meet in a yet more bright Today. ----¯----
Dec 1887
Pub. in ‘Atalanta’.44
44 2:7(April 1889), 483. Atalanta, ed. by L. T. Meade (Elizabeth Thomasina Meade Smith [1854-1914]) and a popular magazine for girls, was published by Hatchards’ from October 1887.