Spring's Messengers in Australia - Frances Tyrrell Gill

Eve winds awake the crocus-flower. 

The faint narcissus dares unfold 

Her face uncaring of the cold; 

As though in dream she heard the shower, 

And breathed the sunshine of that hour 

The roses may behold. 

And change the dear birds' voices tell — 

As new song takes new form of rhyme — 

Not these the notes of winter's clime 

That now, with brief and sudden swell 

At dawn, the lengthening day foretell, 

And pleasant nesting-time! 

Night through, the fierce storm holds its way ; 

With morn the almond-blossom blows; 

Fair blooms! ye bravely do unclose, 

Your slender branches to the play 

Or rage the wild wind knows.

O loud-voiced wind — (for now we hear 

Still other tunes within thy song 

Than storm resounding loud and long) — 

Thou, as the next Day draweth near 

To eve, dost fold thy wings, and clear 

And low dost flute along 

The pathways of the Night so sweet 

An air we cannot choose but list! 

What though the morn bring back the mist, 

Or troubled waves in strife should meet

Again those spirit-tones shall greet 

Our ears, although we wist 

Not all their speech; nor are aware 

What from beneath the sunset's glow 

The viewless voyageur may show. 

A something doth possess the air, 

That through the earlier day did wear 

A look of unshed snow! — 

A something far too fleet and fine 

For naming. Yet it still may be, 

Unseen, the fair Persephone 

May yearly seek an alien shrine; 

And her charmed breath may be the sign 

To wake for flower and tree.

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Frances Tyrrell Gill (19th century) Australia

Source: Australian poets, 1788-1888, Douglas Brooke Wheelton Sladen, Cassell publishing company, 1890