The Return Poem by Maria Frances Cecilia Cowper

I HAVE seen thee again, my beloved,
Thou art come in the pride of thy youth,
With thy beauty a garment about thee,
In thy mantle of truth :

Though my heart was a-weary with waiting.
And the days of thy absence were long,
Thou art come, and the world at thy coming
Is turned to a song.

When the night hangs her shroud in the heavens.
And blackens the face of the land,
And darkness broods over the waters
Ere day is at hand,

Of a sudden the tops of the mountains
Are touched by the fingers of dawn.
And all creatures give thanks for. the daylight,
And sin? to the morn.

When the long weary months of the winter
Have forgotten that summer is gay,
While the sun hides his face in displeasure
And darkens the day,

One morning we wake, and the hedgerows
Are green, and the birds as they sing,
And the soft air that breathes in our faces
Are telling of Spring.

Thou art come, and the Spring is come with thee,
Thou art come, and the morning is here.
Forgotten the horror of watching
For day to appear.

Forgotten the darkness of winter,
The gloom and despair of the night,
In my heart is the gladness of Springtime
When morning is bright.

When the moon in her beauty arising
Makes glorious the heavens above,
When she floods the whole earth with her radiance,
Do we ask her for love ?

So for me 'tis enough that I see thee.
Enough that my heart for a while
Is made glad with the joy of thy presence,
The light of thy smile.

I have seen thee again, my beloved,
Thou art come in the pride of thy youth.
With thy beauty a garment about thee.
In thy mantle of truth :

Thou art come, and the Spring is come with thee,
Thou art come, and the morning is here ;
In my heart is the gladness of morning
When Summer is near.