| Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900. |
| |
| 1506. Budding-Time Too Brief |
| | | By Evaleen Stein |
| |
| |
| O LITTLE buds, break not so fast! | |
| The spring’s but new. | |
| The skies will yet be brighter blue, | |
| And sunny too. | |
| I would you might thus sweetly last | 5 |
| Till this glad season’s overpast, | |
| Nor hasten through. | |
| |
| It is so exquisite to feel | |
| The light warm sun; | |
| To merely know the winter done, | 10 |
| And life begun; | |
| And to my heart no blooms appeal | |
| For tenderness so deep and real, | |
| As any one | |
| |
| Of these first April buds, that hold | 15 |
| The hint of spring’s | |
| Rare perfectness that May-time brings. | |
| So take not wings! | |
| Oh, linger, linger, nor unfold | |
| Too swiftly though the mellow mould, | 20 |
| Sweet growing things! | |
| |
| And errant birds, and honey-bees, | |
| Seek not to wile; | |
| And, sun, let not your warmest smile | |
| Quite yet beguile | 25 |
| The young peach-boughs and apple-trees | |
| To trust their beauty to the breeze; | |
| Wait yet awhile! | |
| |
|
|
|
