A Boy's Will: A Prayer In Spring

by Robert Frost

To the Thawing Wind

Flower-gathering

A Prayer in Spring

He discovers that the greatness of love lies not in forward-looking thoughts;

OH, give us pleasure in the flowers to-day;

And give us not to think so far away

As the uncertain harvest; keep us here

All simply in the springing of the year.

Oh, give us pleasure in the orchard white, Like nothing else by day, like ghosts by night;

And make us happy in the happy bees, The swarm dilating round the perfect trees.

And make us happy in the darting bird

That suddenly above the bees is heard, The meteor that thrusts in with needle bill, And off a blossom in mid air stands still.

For this is love and nothing else is love, The which it is reserved for God above

To sanctify to what far ends He will, But which it only needs that we fulfil.