Wind Songs

What does the North wind say to the boy?
“I’m shaking the trees, lad: whoop for joy!
Chestnuts and walnuts fall like hail,
And the squirrel laughs and flirts his tail;
Now for the woods, ahoy!”

What does the shriek of the frost-wind speak
To the shrinking lake in the hollows bleak?
“Ha! here’s a path for the ice-boat’s keel.
And the wheeling skater’s ringing steel;
Here’s life for the brave who seek!”

What does the warmer South wind sing
To the waiting flowers? “Up, ho! ‘tis Spring!
I have called the birds, and freed the floods
From ice-chains; and I kiss your buds
With the tip of my gossamer wing.”

What is the song of the sea-ward gale,
“Haste, my mariner! Spread your sail;
Far away over the deep-blue miles
I’ll bear your barque to the Golden Isles,
And home again, piled to the rail!”

What does the breeze say, up in the trees,
To the baby rocked on mamma’s knees?
“Sleep, my little one, while I croon
A low, sweet song to a murmurous tune
That Zephyr has taught the bees!”