Full Lyrics
1. O Spirit of the Summertime!
Bring back the roses to the dells;
the swallow from her distant clime,
the honeybee from drowsy cells.
Bring back the friendship of the sun;
the gilded evenings, calm and late,
when merry children homeward run,
and peeping stars bid lovers wait.
Bring back the singing; and the scent
of meadowlands at dewy prime;
oh, bring again my heart's content,
thou Spirit of the Summertime.
2. A Gravestone
Far from the churchyard dig his grave,
on some green mound beside the wave;
to westward, sea and sky alone,
and sunsets. Put a mossy stone,
with mortal name and date, a harp
and bunch of wild flowers, carven sharp;
then leave it free to winds that blow,
and patient mosses creeping; slow,
and wandering wings, and footsteps rare
of human creature pausing there.
3. Four ducks on a pond,
a grass bank beyond,
a blue sky of spring,
white clouds on the wing;
what a little thing
to remember for years,
to remember with tears!
4. The Winter Pear
Is always Age severe?
Is never Youth austere?
Springfruits are sour to eat;
Autumn’s the mellow time.
Nay, very late in the year,
short day and frosty rime,
thought, like a winter pear,
stonecold in summer’s prime,
may turn from harsh to sweet.
