Author: Madison Julius Cawein

---

    April calling, April calling,
    April calling me!
    I hear the voice of April there
    In each old apple tree:
    Bee-boom and wild perfume,
    And wood-brook melody,
    O hark, my heart, and hear, my heart,
    The April Ecstasy!

    Hark to the hills, the oldtime hills,
    That talk with sea and sky!
    Or speak in murmurs with God's winds
    Who on their bosoms lie:
    Bird-call and waterfall
    And white clouds blowing by,
    O hark, my heart, O hear, my heart,
    The April's cosmic cry!

    There runs a whisper through the woods,
    The word of bough to bough,
    A sound of dead things donning green,
    Of Beauty waking now:
    Fern-bower and wilding flower,
    Each like a prayer or vow,
    O see, my heart, O look, my heart,
    Where Earth crowns white her brow!

    And far away, and far away,
    Yet nearer than she seems,
    Look where she takes the oldtime trail
    And walks again with dreams:
    Bird note and blue remote
    And laughter of wild streams,
    O hark, my heart, O hear, my heart,
    And follow where she gleams!

    Earth has put off her winter garb
    Of gray and drab and dun,
    And robes herself in raiment green
    Of love and laughter spun:
    Wood-bloom and wood-perfume
    And colors of the sun,
    O hark, my heart, O hear, my heart,
    Where her wild footsteps run!

    O April, mother of my soul,
    Take to your heart your child:
    And let him lie a little while
    Upon its rapture wild:
    Lean close and near, and let him hear
    The words that once beguiled,
    And on his eyes the kiss again
    Of longing reconciled.

    O kiss, that fills the fields with flowers
    And thrills with green each grove,
    Dream down into this heart again
    And grow to songs thereof:
    Wild songs in singing throngs,
    That swift shall mount above,
    And, like to birds, with lyric words,
    Take Earth and Heaven with love.

---

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 vibrant and celebratory ode to the season of spring, particularly the month of April, which is portrayed as a time of renewal and rebirth. The poet uses vivid, sensory language, painting a picture of the natural world coming alive after the dormancy of winter. The poem has a strong musical quality, with its use of repetition, rhyme, and rhythm, creating a sense of movement and energy that mirrors the dynamic, burgeoning life of spring.

Thematically, the poem explores the connection between humanity and nature, with the speaker of the poem expressing a deep sense of longing and joy at the return of spring. The repeated refrain of "O hark, my heart, O hear, my heart", emphasizes the emotional resonance of the natural world for the speaker. The poet also uses personification, presenting April as a nurturing, maternal figure, and the Earth as an active, dynamic presence, robing herself in "raiment green". This contributes to an overall tone of wonder and reverence towards nature.

The poem's structure is regular and rhythmic, which gives it a sense of coherence and unity. The consistent stanza structure and rhyme scheme create a predictable, comforting rhythm that mimics the cyclical nature of the seasons. The poet's use of alliteration and assonance, such as "bird-call and waterfall" and "wood-bloom and wood-perfume", adds to the musical quality of the poem.

In conclusion, this poem is a beautifully crafted celebration of spring, expressing a deep connection with and reverence for the natural world. The poet's use of sensory language, musical devices, and personification create a vivid, evocative portrait of the season, filled with energy, movement, and emotional resonance.