The sky a canopy of cold br In the silence where no bird sings, br Vile is winter, bitter, old, br Yet beneath the snow, what wealth springs; br br The ice locked land bides ts time, br Life urges checked in dormant state br Comes the breath of warmer climes, br Green shoots surge, the snow cap breaks; br br These dry and weathered walnut trees br Withered black in shielded bark br There springs a shoot, despite the freeze, br The new heard melody of the lark.