April's Charms

When April scatters charms of primrose gold
Among the copper leaves in thickets old,
And singing skylarks from the meadows rise,
to twinkle like black stars in sunny skies;

When I can hear the small woodpecker ring
Time on a tree for all the birds that sing;
and hear the pleasant cuckoo, loud and long -
The simple bird that thinks two notes a song;

When I can hear the woodland brook, that could
not drown a babe, with all his threatening mood;
upon these banks the violets make their home,
and let a few small strawberry blossoms come;

When I go forth on such a pleasant day,
one breath outdoors takes all my cares away;
It goes like heavy smoke, when flames take hold
Of wood that's green and fill a grate with gold.
         William Henry Davies