Supposed to have been written in the New Forest,
in early Spring.
AS in the woods, where leathery Lichen weaves
Its wint’ry web among the sallow leaves,
Which (through cold months in whirling eddies blown)
Decay beneath the branches once their own,
From the brown shelter of their foliage sear,
Spring the young blooms that lead the floral year:
When, waked by vernal suns, the Pilewort dares
Expand her spotted leaves, and shining stars
And (veins empurpling all her tassels pale)
Bends the soft Wind-flower in the tepid gale;
Uncultured bells of azure Jacynth’s blow,
And the breeze-scenting Violet lurks below:
So views the wanderer, with delighted eyes,
Reviving hopes from black despondence rise,
When, blighted by adversity’s chill breath,
Those hopes had felt a temporary death;
Then with gay heart he looks to future hours,
When love shall dress for him the summer bowers.
And, as delicious dreams enchant his mind,
Forgets his sorrows past, or gives them to the wind.
(Charlotte Smith)
More Poetry from Charlotte Smith:
Charlotte Smith Poems based on Topics: Love, Death & Dying, Summer, Youth, Mind, Spring, Past- The Emigrants: Book I (Charlotte Smith Poems)
- The Emigrants: Book II (Charlotte Smith Poems)
- The Forest Boy (Charlotte Smith Poems)
- The Origin Of Flattery (Charlotte Smith Poems)
- Occasional Address (Charlotte Smith Poems)
- A Descriptive Ode (Charlotte Smith Poems)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: Love Poems, Mind Poems, Death & Dying Poems, Youth Poems, Past Poems, Spring Poems, Summer PoemsBased on Keywords: uncultured, despondence, adversity, wint, leathery, wind-flower, empurpling, jacynth