April, the Jester by Ruth Collie

Hark to April's merry laughter! Glad is she to reach this earth. / Perhaps she'll weep a minute after -- sorrow often follows mirth. Not / to-day, though, will she sorrow; she's our Jester, queen of fun. / Time enough to weep to-morrow, when her roguishness is done. Cap and / bells is April wearing, Punchinello in her hand; jokes with Brother / Wind she's sharing, mortals cannot understand. Oh! beware of April's / laughter; trust her not, she is not true. First she laughs -- a minute / after, she will make a fool of you. Now I've warned you, you'll be / clever, quite prepared for April's wit. Let her whisper "Perfect / weather," you'll not be deceived by it! April her attire is / flaunting, cap and bells and motley gay; and her smile is mocking, / taunting -- April's fools are we to-day. Play the Jester, little / April, just for four and twenty hours. Then to duty, naughty / April -- earth awaits your smiles and show'rs.