Classic Poem

Thanks, O Magic-Man, to you.
Suddenly my skies are blue,
And again the garden heaves
Blossoms and the buds of leaves
Up and down my avenue.

Oh, not northern is such bliss
At the Springtime's ardent kiss!
'T is an orient earth to blush
When the god-lips smile and crush
Color in her cheek like this!

Yeddo cherry bloom, you say.
Hung within my window, grey
With the frost and frowning sky,
It shall winter there, and I
Oft shall wander thereaway.

Little lessons all the hours
Read I in those cherry bowers;
Would that I might always, too,
Keep a sunny heart and true,
Man of Magic, Man of Flowers!

I should like when Northwinds war
(Many kinds of Northwinds are!)
Where the windows frostiest freeze
To dispense transparencies
All of Islands fair and far.

These should always teach of Spring
And the joy of blossoming,
And would tell the people how
To have always lips and brow
Fresh with hope as mine are now.

Thou good Magic-Man, how art
Thou for comfort in the heart?
Need'st thou any word of friend,
Any message love may send —
Any thought such word might start?

Real need shall not befall
Thy most gentle soul at all;
But we all half-needs confess
Of remembrance, of caress,
Some friend-token howe'er small.

Thus, upon life's window, see
Frost and heavy sky, maybe;
But look up and lo! thy line
Like the Yeddo trees will shine
With friendship's bright transparency .