I feel the Spring far off, far off, 
The faint far scent of bud and leaf-- 
Oh how can Spring take heart to come 
To a world in grief, 
Deep grief?

The sun turns north, the days grow long, 
Later the evening star grows bright-- 
How can the daylight linger on 
For men to fight, 
Still fight?

The grass is waking in the ground, 
Soon it will rise and blow in waves-- 
How can it have the heart to sway 
Over the graves, 
New graves?

Under the boughs where lovers walked 
The apple-blooms will shed their breath-- 
But what of all the lovers now 
Parted by death, 
Gray Death?