Hilary, Summer calls thee, o’er the sea !
Like white flowers upon the tide,
In and out the vessels glide ;
But no wind on all the main
Sends thy blithe soul home again :
Every salt breeze moans for thee,
Hilary !
Hilary,
Welcome Summer’s step will be,
Save to those beside whose door
Doleful birds sit evermore
Singing, “ Never comes he here
Who made every season’s cheer ! ”
Dull the June that brings not thee,
Hilary !
Hilary,
What strange world has sheltered thee ?
Here the soil beneath thy feet
Rang with, songs, and blossomed sweet;
Blue skies ask thee yet of Earth,
Blind and dumb without thy mirth:
With thee went her heart of glee,
Hilary!
Hilary,
All things shape a sigh for thee!
O’er the waves, among the flowers,
Through the lapse of odorous hours,
Breathes a lonely, longing sound,
As of something sought, unfound :
Lorn are all things, lorn are we,
Hilary!
Hilary,
Oh, to sail in quest of thee,
To the trade-wind’s steady tune,
Past the hurrying monsoon,
Into torrid seas, that lave
Dry, hot sands, — a breathless grave, —
Sad as vain the search would be,
Hilary!
Hilary,
Chase the sorrow from the sea!
Summer-heart, bring summer near,
Warm, and fresh, and airy-clear !
— Dead thou art not: dead is pain ;
Now Earth sees and sings again :
Death, to hold thee, Life must be,
Hilary !