Author: Madison Julius Cawein

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    The wild oxalis
    Among the valleys
    Lifts up its chalice
    Of pink and pearl;
    And, balsam-breathing,
    From out their sheathing,
    The myriad wreathing
    Green leaves uncurl.

    The whole world brightens
    With spring, that lightens
    The foot that frightens
    The building thrush;
    Where water tosses
    On ferns and mosses
    The squirrel crosses
    The beechen hush.

    And vision on vision,
    Like ships elysian
    On some white mission,
    Sails cloud on cloud;
    With scents of clover
    The winds brim over,
    And in the cover
    The stream is loud.

    'Twixt bloom that blanches
    The orchard branches
    Old farms and ranches
    Gleam in the gloam;
    'Mid blossoms blowing,
    Through fields for sowing,
    The cows come lowing,
    The cows come home.

    Where ways are narrow,
    A vesper-sparrow
    Flits like an arrow
    Of living rhyme;
    The red sun poises,
    And farmyard noises
    Mix with glad voices
    Of milking-time.

    When dusk disposes
    Of all its roses,
    And darkness closes,
    And work is done,
    A moon's white feather
    In starry weather
    And two together
    Whose hearts are one.

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Type of Poem: Lyric Poem

Date Written:

Date Published:

Language: English

Keywords: Public Domain

Source: Public Domain Collection

Publisher:

Rights/Permissions: Public Domain

Comments/Notes: This poem is a vivid celebration of nature and the pastoral life, painted in rich, vibrant imagery. The poet captures the essence of spring and rural life, using an array of colors, sounds, and textures to construct a multisensory experience. The thematic progression of the poem takes us through a day in the countryside, from the morning's awakening flora to the evening's serene tranquility.

The poem's structure, marked by a consistent rhyme scheme and regular meter, underscores the rhythms of nature and rural life, creating a sense of harmonious cyclicity. The poet employs an array of literary devices such as similes, personification, and alliteration, which further enrich the sensory tapestry. The use of personification (“The whole world brightens with spring”) imbues nature with a lively, active presence, while the simile (“Flits like an arrow of living rhyme”) creates a dynamic image that blends the visual and auditory realms. The alliteration (“balsam-breathing,” “beechen hush”) adds a musical quality, heightening the poem's immersive, sensory appeal.

The tone of the poem is predominantly joyful and serene, capturing the delight and tranquility of being in harmony with the natural world. The closing lines, “A moon's white feather in starry weather and two together whose hearts are one,” leave us with a sense of peaceful togetherness, suggesting a broader theme of unity and connection — not only between two individuals, but also between humanity and nature.