Classic Poem

LINES WRITTEN IN MID-WINTER

The flowers of summer died, the winter came
Clothing the hills in gloom, the fields in shame;
The groves, where stride by stride the frost-king won,
Pined for warm airs and clamoured for the sun.
But then, with regnant charm that smote dismay
And mocked June's flowers, a fairer came than they;
The sweetest rose of love that e'er was born
Bloomed 'mid the snow, and blossomed on a thorn!