He is nearer to-night

Whose coming in June

Is looked for more than the light.

Bird answers to bird,

Hour passes the sign on to hour,

And for joy of the bright news heard

Flower murmurs to flower.

The ways that were glad of his feet

In the woods that he knew

Grow softer to meet

The sense of his footfall anew.

He is near now as day,

Says hope to the new-born light:

He is near now as June is to May,

Says love to the night.

356 XXIV

356

Good things I keep to console me

For lack of the best of all,

A child to command and control me,

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