第4章

Forsurelyallisnotinvain,Thisgallantshowshebrings;

Butsealofhopeandsignofgain,BeareththisSpringofsprings.

NolongernowtheseasonswearDull,withoutanytaleOfhowthechainthetoilersbearIsgrowingthinandfrail.

ButhopeofplentyandgoodwillFliesforthfromlandtoland,NoranynowthevoicecanstillThatcriethonthehand.

AlittlewhileshallSpringcomebackAndfindtheAncientHomeYetmarredbyfoolishwasteandlack,Andmostenthralledbysome.

Alittlewhile,andthenatlastShallthegreetingsoftheyearBeblentwithwonderofthepastAndallthegriefsthatwere.

Alittlewhile,andtheythatmeetThelivingyeartopraise,ShallbetothemasmusicsweetThatgriefofbye—gonedays.

Sobewemerrytoourbest,Nowthelandissweetandsheen,AndSpringwithSummeratherbreastGoesdownthemeadowsgreen.

THEMESSAGEOFTHEMARCHWIND{1}

Fairnowisthespringtide,nowearthliesbeholdingWiththeeyesofaloverthefaceofthesun;

Longlasteththedaylight,andhopeisenfoldingThegreen—growingacreswithincreasebegun.

Nowsweet,sweetitisthroughthelandtobestrayingMidthebirdsandtheblossomsandthebeastsofthefield;

Lovemingleswithlove,andnoevilisweighingOnthyheartormine,whereallsorrowishealed.

Fromtownshiptotownship,o\'erdownandbytillageFar,farhavewewanderedandlongwastheday,Butnowcometheveattheendofthevillage,Whereoverthegreywallthechurchrisethgrey.

Thereiswindinthetwilight;inthewhiteroadbeforeusThestrawfromtheox—yardisblowingabout;

Themoon\'srimisrising,astarglitterso\'erus,Andthevaneonthespire—topisswingingindoubt.

Downtheredipsthehighway,towardthebridgecrossingoverThebrookthatrunsontotheThamesandthesea.

Drawcloser,mysweet,weareloverandlover;

Thiseveartthougiventogladnessandme.

Shallwebegladalways?Comecloserandhearken:

Threefieldsfurtheron,astheytoldmedownthere,Whentheyoungmoonhasset,iftheMarchskyshoulddarken,Wemightseefromthehill—topthegreatcity\'sglare.

Hark,thewindintheelm—boughs!FromLondonitbloweth,Andtellingofgold,andofhopeandunrest;

Ofpowerthathelpsnot;ofwisdomthatknoweth,Butteachethnotaughtoftheworstandthebest.

Oftherichmenittelleth,andstrangeisthestoryHowtheyhave,andtheyhanker,andgripfarandwide;

Andtheyliveandtheydie,andtheearthanditsgloryHasbeenbutaburdentheyscarcemightabide.

Hark!theMarchwindagainofapeopleistelling;

Ofthelifethattheylivethere,sohaggardandgrim,ThatifweandourloveamidstthemhadbeendwellingMyfondnesshadfaltered,thybeautygrowndim.

ThislandwehavelovedinourloveandourleisureForthemhangsinheaven,highoutoftheirreach;

Thewidehillso\'erthesea—plainforthemhavenopleasure,Thegreyhomesoftheirfathersnostorytoteach.

Thesingershavesungandthebuildershavebuilded,Thepaintershavefashionedtheirtalesofdelight;

Forwhatandforwhomhaththeworld\'sbookbeengilded,Whenallisforthesebuttheblacknessofnight?

Howlongandforwhatistheirpatienceabiding?

Howoftandhowoftshalltheirstorybetold,WhilethehopethatnoneseekethindarknessishidingAndingriefandinsorrowtheworldgrowethold?

Comebacktotheinn,love,andthelightsandthefire,Andthefiddler\'soldtuneandtheshufflingoffeet;

Forthereinawhileshallberestanddesire,Andthereshallthemorrow\'suprisingbesweet.

Yet,love,aswewendthewindblowethbehindusAndbeareththelasttaleittellethto—night,Howhereinthespring—tidethemessageshallfindus;

Forthehopethatnoneseekethiscomingtolight.

Liketheseedofmidwinter,unheeded,unperished,Liketheautumn—sownwheat\'neaththesnowlyinggreen,Likethelovethato\'ertookus,unawaresanduncherished,Likethebabe\'neaththygirdlethatgrowethunseen,Sothehopeofthepeoplenowbuddethandgroweth—

Restfadethbeforeit,andblindnessandfear;

Itbiddethuslearnallthewisdomitknoweth;

Ithathfoundusandheldus,andbiddethushear:

Foritbeareththemessage:\"RiseuponthemorrowAndgoonyourwaystowardthedoubtandthestrife;

Joinhopetoourhopeandblendsorrowwithsorrow,Andseekformen\'sloveintheshortdaysoflife.\"

Butlo,theoldinn,andthelightsandthefire,Andthefiddler\'soldtuneandtheshufflingoffeet;

Soonforusshallbequietandrestanddesire,Andto—morrow\'suprisingtodeedsshallbesweet.

Footnotes{1}Afterconsultingvarioussourcesitisnotclearastowhether\"TheMessageoftheMarchWind\"wasoriginallypublishedwith\"ChantsforSocialists\".ChantsforSocialistsconsistsofpoemsthatMorriswroteforvariousoccasionsandwhichwerecollectedtogetherandpublishedbytheSocialistLeaguein1885.IfanyreaderhasaccesstotheoriginalChantsI(DavidPrice)wouldbeverygladifyoucouldclearuptheuncertaintyontheexactcontents.——DavidPrice