"The Crocuses" by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper

[View this email on a browser]( [Forward to a friend]( [facebook-icon]( [tumblr-icon]( [twitter-icon]( September 9, 2018 [The Crocuses]( [Frances Ellen Watkins Harper]( They heard the South wind sighing A murmur of the rain; And they knew that Earth was longing To see them all again. While the snow-drops still were sleeping Beneath the silent sod; They felt their new life pulsing Within the dark, cold clod. Not a daffodil nor daisy Had dared to raise its head; Not a fairhaired dandelion Peeped timid from its bed; Though a tremor of the winter Did shivering through them run; Yet they lifted up their foreheads To greet the vernal sun. And the sunbeams gave them welcome, As did the morning air— And scattered o’er their simple robes Rich tints of beauty rare. Soon a host of lovely flowers From vales and woodland burst; But in all that fair procession The crocuses were first. First to weave for Earth a chaplet To crown her dear old head; And to beauty the pathway Where winter still did tread. And their loved and white haired mother Smiled sweetly ’neath the touch, When she knew her faithful children Were loving her so much. [Like this on Facebook]( [Share via Twitter]( This poem is in the public domain. About This Poem “The Crocuses” was published in Poems (C. S. Ferguson, 1895). [Frances Ellen Watkins Harper]( Frances Ellen Watkins Harper was born on September 24, 1825, in Baltimore, Maryland. Her books include Forest Leaves (James Young, 1846) and Poems on Miscellaneous Subjects (Merrihew and Thompson, 1857), among others. She died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on February 22, 1911. [more-at-poets]( [Poems on Miscellaneous Subjects]( Poetry by Harper [Poems on Miscellaneous Subjects]( (HardPress, 2018) "Poppies on the Wheat" by Helen Hunt Jackson [read-more]( "October Hills" by John Rollin Ridge [read-more]( "Prairie Spring" by Willa Cather [read-more]( September Guest Editor: Rigoberto González Thanks to Rigoberto González, author of Unpeopled Eden (Four Way Books, 2013), who curated Poem-a-Day this month. Read more about [González]( and our [guest editors for the year.]( [make a one-time donation]( [make a monthly donation]( [Small-Blue-RGB-poets.org-Logo]( Thanks for being a part of the Academy of American Poets community. To learn about other programs, including National Poetry Month, Poem in Your Pocket Day, the annual Poets Forum, and more, visit [Poets.org](. You are receiving this e-mail because you elected to subscribe to our mailing list. If you would like to unsubscribe, please click [here](. © Academy of American Poets 75 Maiden Lane, Suite 901, New York, NY 10038