Welcome To Our Canadian Spring.

We welcome thy coming, bright, sunny Spring,         To this snow-clad land of ours,     For sunshine and music surround thy steps,         Thy pathway is strewn with flowers;     And vainly stern Winter, with brow of gloom,         Attempted for awhile     To check thy coming - he had to bow         To the might of thy sunny smile.     A touch of thy wand, and our streams and lakes         Are freed from his tyrant sway,     And their clear blue depths in ripples of gold         Reflect back the sun's bright ray;     Whilst e'en the rude rocks that their waters fret         Put on mosses green and bright,     And silent, deep homage render up now,         Sweet Spring, to thy magic might.     And what words could tell half the wond'rous change         Thou mak'st in our forest bowers,     Replacing the snow with soft velvet sward,         Cold crystals with glowing flowers;     Clothing the leafless, unsightly trees         In rich garb of satin sheen,     And robing the meadows and woodlands wide         In thine own soft tender green.     And the insect life that thy warm breath wakes         Now people earth and air;     And the carolling birds have come back to dwell         In the charms of thy presence fair.     Need we wonder all hearts with joyous beat         Watch the changes thou dost bring,     And, with smiles of gladness, welcome thee         To our land, bright, sunny Spring?