The Woods in May / Ellwood Roberts

The Woods in May

Otto P. Balle (1865-1916), A Pine Forest in May,

 1909 (detail). Wikimedia Commons.

There dwells a subtle fragrance
    Within the woods of May,
That baffles all description,
    Inviting us to stay.
Aroma of the spring-time,
    Of bursting buds it tells,
Of wild flowers bright unfolding
    From out their tiny cells.

The newborn leaves a tender
    And brilliant green display;
When come the heats of summer,
    It quickly flies away.
Among the trees we wander,
    With sense of keen delight;
We may not feel it later,
    Though sunshine be as bright.

Sweet Nature's resurrection
    From Winter's ice and snow,
Fills woods of May with beauty
    Beyond all else we know.
The fragrant honeysuckle,
    And dogwood flowers white,
Bloom here in all their glory,
    A vision of delight.

How natural to linger
    Among the woods of May,
So many wonders are there,
    Inviting us to stay.
Each bush and tree has treasures
    Of leaf, or bud, or flower;
No art is there like Nature's
    When she exerts her power.

A tender, new-born glory,
    The leaflets all display,
There dwells a subtle fragranc
    Around our path to-day;
It bids us pause and linger,
    Ere it be gone for aye.
What joy and peace and sweetness
    Within the woods of May!

~~
Ellwood Roberts (1846-1921)
From Lyrics of Quakerism, and other poems, 1895

[Poem is in the public domain worldwide]

Ellwood Roberts biography