After the Winter Rain by Ina Coolbrith



After the winter rain, 

   Sing, robin! Sing, swallow!

Grasses are in the lane, 

   Buds and flowers will follow.


Woods shall ring, blithe and gay,

   With bird-trill and twitter,

Though the skies weep to-day, 

   And the winds are bitter. 


Though deep call unto deep

   As calls the thunder, 

And white the billows leap

   The tempest under;


Softly the waves shall come

   Up the long, bright beaches, 

With dainty, flowers of foam

   And tenderest speeches…


After the wintry pain, 

   And the long, long sorrow, 

Sing, heart!—for thee again

   Joy comes with the morrow.

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