The Miracle of Spring

    The Miracle of Spring
    Recall how with frozen fingers December’s clouds outspread
    Over the fields and uplands a mantle of ice and snow;
    Over the buried roses, over a world of dead
    Vengeful as any hangman stalked the exultant crow.
    But lo, the abiding wonder! Spirit, that never dies,
    Surges anew and vital through the upstanding trees.
    See, those spear-armed horsemen, the spreading tulips, rise
    Over the plains triumphant, hills, yea, and mountains seize.
    Behold, the eager lily leaps to delight the eye,
    Spurning the bent narcissus crouched in his self-regard.
    Deep in the springing corn-shoots the gleaming violets lie;
    Bright with a myriad jewels the wheat-swept fields are starred.
    Under the nodding willow the poppy lies in blood-
    Sudden the blow that smote her, drenched her crimson flood.
    And now, mid the green profusion of wheat, in mingled hue
    Note how the lily argent with azure glows;
    So, when the sky is stippled with scattered rain-clouds through
    Here and here betwixt them the vault of heaven shows.

    BAHAR (1884 -1951)
    Verse Translation : A.J.Arberry (1905 -1969)

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammad_Taghi_Bahar
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_John_Arberry