Read "Sorrow in Spring" by Fannie Stearns Davis online for free on Textopian. Full text with search, annotations, highlights, and AI-powered reading aids.
Sorrow knocked at my door, Sorrow sat by my bed. I could not sing any more. The bird at the green lane's head Sings, and the Spring returns. Primroses revel in dew. Fire from the twilight burns, Soft stars, trembling and new.
Children shout in the street; Pedlars gesture and chaff; Linden-branches repeat Wise-wives' stories, and laugh. River runs to the sea; Boats swim brave on his breast. (There is one boat whose free Swan-wings surpass the rest.)
Would I might sail away! -- Lock my door in the town; Lock in the dark old day When Sorrow came in her gown Heavy and soiled with ash: Knocked, and entered, and sate. My candles failed in a flash. The bread was dust that I ate.
-- Oh, to sing as of old! Sing, with the dance of the day, -- Sing, with the waters cold And the quick winds running away! -- Never, never, again. -- But I will be proud, not cry. Sunshine, children, the strain Of the harp-man loitering by, I will not hurt you with tears. Look! I will laugh! -- And lo, Sorrow, -- Sorrow, -- she hears! She smiles! and she rises to go!