Read the poem: “April Birthday, An—at Sea”

by James Russell Lowell

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American Literature – American Poetry – James Russell Lowell
< < < Anti-Apis
Arcadia Rediviva. > > >

April Birthday, An—at Sea

On this wild waste, where never blossom came,
  Save the white wind-flower to the billow’s cap,
Or those pale disks of momentary flame,
  Loose petals dropped from Dian’s careless lap,
    What far fetched influence all my fancy fills,
    With singing birds and dancing daffodils?

Why, ’tis her day whom jocund April brought,
  And who brings April with her in her eyes;
It is her vision lights my lonely thought,
  Even as a rose that opes its hushed surprise
    In sick men’s chambers, with its glowing breath
    Plants Summer at the glacier edge of Death.

Gray sky, sea gray as mossy stones on graves;—
  Anon comes April in her jollity;
And dancing down the bleak vales ‘tween the waves,
  Makes them green glades for all her flowers and me.
    The gulls turn thrushes, charmed are sea and sky
    By magic of my thought, and know not why.

Ah, but I know, for never April’s shine,
  Nor passion gust of rain, nor all her flowers
Scattered in haste, were seen so sudden fine
  As she in various mood, on whom the powers
    Of happiest stars in fair conjunction smiled
    To bless the birth, of April’s darling child.

< < < Anti-Apis
Arcadia Rediviva.. > > >

American Literature – American Poetry – James Russell Lowell

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by James Russell Lowell

April Birthday, An—at Sea

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