Forsurelyallisnotinvain,Thisgallantshowshebrings;
Butsealofhopeandsignofgain,BeareththisSpringofsprings.
NolongernowtheseasonswearDull,withoutanytaleOfhowthechainthetoilersbearIsgrowingthinandfrail.
ButhopeofplentyandgoodwillFliesforthfromlandtoland,NoranynowthevoicecanstillThatcriethonthehand.
AlittlewhileshallSpringcomebackAndfindtheAncientHomeYetmarredbyfoolishwasteandlack,Andmostenthralledbysome.
Alittlewhile,andthenatlastShallthegreetingsoftheyearBeblentwithwonderofthepastAndallthegriefsthatwere.
Alittlewhile,andtheythatmeetThelivingyeartopraise,ShallbetothemasmusicsweetThatgriefofbye—gonedays.
Sobewemerrytoourbest,Nowthelandissweetandsheen,AndSpringwithSummeratherbreastGoesdownthemeadowsgreen.
THEMESSAGEOFTHEMARCHWIND{1}
Fairnowisthespringtide,nowearthliesbeholdingWiththeeyesofaloverthefaceofthesun;
Longlasteththedaylight,andhopeisenfoldingThegreen—growingacreswithincreasebegun.
Nowsweet,sweetitisthroughthelandtobestrayingMidthebirdsandtheblossomsandthebeastsofthefield;
Lovemingleswithlove,andnoevilisweighingOnthyheartormine,whereallsorrowishealed.
Fromtownshiptotownship,o\'erdownandbytillageFar,farhavewewanderedandlongwastheday,Butnowcometheveattheendofthevillage,Whereoverthegreywallthechurchrisethgrey.
Thereiswindinthetwilight;inthewhiteroadbeforeusThestrawfromtheox—yardisblowingabout;
Themoon\'srimisrising,astarglitterso\'erus,Andthevaneonthespire—topisswingingindoubt.
Downtheredipsthehighway,towardthebridgecrossingoverThebrookthatrunsontotheThamesandthesea.
Drawcloser,mysweet,weareloverandlover;
Thiseveartthougiventogladnessandme.
Shallwebegladalways?Comecloserandhearken:
Threefieldsfurtheron,astheytoldmedownthere,Whentheyoungmoonhasset,iftheMarchskyshoulddarken,Wemightseefromthehill—topthegreatcity\'sglare.
Hark,thewindintheelm—boughs!FromLondonitbloweth,Andtellingofgold,andofhopeandunrest;
Ofpowerthathelpsnot;ofwisdomthatknoweth,Butteachethnotaughtoftheworstandthebest.
Oftherichmenittelleth,andstrangeisthestoryHowtheyhave,andtheyhanker,andgripfarandwide;
Andtheyliveandtheydie,andtheearthanditsgloryHasbeenbutaburdentheyscarcemightabide.
Hark!theMarchwindagainofapeopleistelling;
Ofthelifethattheylivethere,sohaggardandgrim,ThatifweandourloveamidstthemhadbeendwellingMyfondnesshadfaltered,thybeautygrowndim.
ThislandwehavelovedinourloveandourleisureForthemhangsinheaven,highoutoftheirreach;
Thewidehillso\'erthesea—plainforthemhavenopleasure,Thegreyhomesoftheirfathersnostorytoteach.
Thesingershavesungandthebuildershavebuilded,Thepaintershavefashionedtheirtalesofdelight;
Forwhatandforwhomhaththeworld\'sbookbeengilded,Whenallisforthesebuttheblacknessofnight?
Howlongandforwhatistheirpatienceabiding?
Howoftandhowoftshalltheirstorybetold,WhilethehopethatnoneseekethindarknessishidingAndingriefandinsorrowtheworldgrowethold?
Comebacktotheinn,love,andthelightsandthefire,Andthefiddler\'soldtuneandtheshufflingoffeet;
Forthereinawhileshallberestanddesire,Andthereshallthemorrow\'suprisingbesweet.
Yet,love,aswewendthewindblowethbehindusAndbeareththelasttaleittellethto—night,Howhereinthespring—tidethemessageshallfindus;
Forthehopethatnoneseekethiscomingtolight.
Liketheseedofmidwinter,unheeded,unperished,Liketheautumn—sownwheat\'neaththesnowlyinggreen,Likethelovethato\'ertookus,unawaresanduncherished,Likethebabe\'neaththygirdlethatgrowethunseen,Sothehopeofthepeoplenowbuddethandgroweth—
Restfadethbeforeit,andblindnessandfear;
Itbiddethuslearnallthewisdomitknoweth;
Ithathfoundusandheldus,andbiddethushear:
Foritbeareththemessage:\"RiseuponthemorrowAndgoonyourwaystowardthedoubtandthestrife;
Joinhopetoourhopeandblendsorrowwithsorrow,Andseekformen\'sloveintheshortdaysoflife.\"
Butlo,theoldinn,andthelightsandthefire,Andthefiddler\'soldtuneandtheshufflingoffeet;
Soonforusshallbequietandrestanddesire,Andto—morrow\'suprisingtodeedsshallbesweet.
Footnotes{1}Afterconsultingvarioussourcesitisnotclearastowhether\"TheMessageoftheMarchWind\"wasoriginallypublishedwith\"ChantsforSocialists\".ChantsforSocialistsconsistsofpoemsthatMorriswroteforvariousoccasionsandwhichwerecollectedtogetherandpublishedbytheSocialistLeaguein1885.IfanyreaderhasaccesstotheoriginalChantsI(DavidPrice)wouldbeverygladifyoucouldclearuptheuncertaintyontheexactcontents.——DavidPrice