Now fades the last long streak of snow, br Now burgeons every maze of quick br About the flowering squares, and thick br By ashen roots the violets blow. br br Now rings the woodland loud and long, br The distance takes a lovelier hue, br And drowned in yonder living blue br The lark becomes a sightless song. br br Now dance the lights on lawn and lea, br The flocks are whiter down the vale, br And milkier every milky sail, br On winding stream or distant sea; br br Where now the seamew pipes, or dives br In yonder greening gleam, and fly br The happy birds, that change their sky br To build and brood, that live their lives br br From land to land; and in my breast br Spring wakens too: and my regret br Become an April violet, br And buds and blossoms like the rest.