Announcement

The night is loud with reeds of rain     Rejoicing at my window-pane,     And murmuring, "Spring comes again!"     I hear the wind take up their song     And on the sky's vibrating gong     Beat out and roar it all night long.     Then waters, where they pour their might     In foam, halloo it down the night,     From vale to vale and height to height.     And I thank God that down the deep     She comes, her ancient tryst to keep     With Earth again who wakes from sleep:     From death and sleep, that held her fast     So long, pale cerements round her cast,     Her penetential raiment vast.     Now, Lazarus-like, within her grave     She stirs, who hears the words that save,     The Christ-like words of wind and wave.     And, hearing, bids her soul prepare     The germs of blossoms in her there     To make her body sweet and fair;     To meet in manifest audience     The eyes of Spring, and reverence,     With beauty, God in soul and sense.