Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). A Victorian Anthology, 1837–1895. 1895.

Alfred Perceval Graves b. 1846

The White Blossom’s off the Bog

THE WHITE blossom’s off the bog and the leaves are off the trees,

And the singing birds have scattered across the stormy seas:

And oh! ’t is winter,

Wild, wild winter!

With the lonesome wind sighing for ever through the trees.

How green the leaves were springing! how glad the birds were singing!

When I rested in the meadow with my head on Patrick’s knees!

And oh! ’t was spring-time,

Sweet, sweet spring-time!

With the daisies all dancing before in the breeze.

With the spring the fresh leaves they ’ll laugh upon the trees,

And the birds they ’ll flutter back with their songs across the seas,

But I ’ll never rest again with my head on Patrick’s knees;

And for me’t will be winter,

All the year winter,

With the lonesome wind sighing for ever through the trees.