Joy comes with Spring
And  hearts beat high with hope,
When blithe birds sing
And tender green leaves ope
On tree and bush.
Then, how the glad notes gush
From hearts were lately sad!
The blackbird and the thrush,
The linnet and the lark
With ecstasy are mad
From dawn of day till dark.

The streams rejoice
Betwixt their greening banks;
The willow’s voice
Is heard returning thanks;
The zephyr mild
Sports like a happy child
Across the daisied green,
All sweet and undefiled.
And the proud King of Day
Smiles on the vernal Queen,
And dries her tears away.

Hope comes with Spring
To spirits long opprest;
And joy-bells ring
In every human breast.
Love loudly knocks
At doors suspicion locks:
Through welcome doors that ope,
Right boldly in he walks,
With happiness, his bride –
O Love! O, Joy! O, Hope! –
All in the sweet spring-tide.

MICHAEL MULLIN ‘The Bard of Foremass’
Foremass Lower, Sixmilecross, Co. Tyrone.