Thomas Bailey Aldrich

Marjorie’s Almanac

Robins in the tree-top,
 Blossoms in the grass,
Green things a-growing
 Everywhere you pass;
Sudden little breezes,
 Showers of silver dew,
Black bough and bent twig
 Budding out anew;
Pine-tree and willow-tree,
 Fringed elm and larch,—
Don’t you think that May-time’s
 Pleasanter than March?

Apples in the orchard
 Mellowing one by one;
Strawberries upturning
 Soft cheeks to the sun;

Roses faint with sweetness,
 Lilies fair of face,
Drowsy scents and murmurs
 Haunting every place;
Lengths of golden sunshine,
 Moonlight bright as day,—
Don’t you think that summer’s
 Pleasanter than May?

Roger in the corn-patch
 Whistling negro songs;
Pussy by the hearth-side
 Romping with the tongs;
Chestnuts in the ashes
 Bursting through the rind;
Red leaf and gold leaf
 Rustling down the wind;
Mother “doin’ peaches”
 All the afternoon,—
Don’t you think that autumn’s
 Pleasanter than June?

Little fairy snow-flakes
 Dancing in the flue;
Old Mr. Santa Claus,
 What is keeping you?
Twilight and firelight
 Shadows come and go;

Merry chime of sleigh-bells
 Tinkling through the snow;
Mother knitting stockings
 (Pussy’s got the ball),—
Don’t you think that winter’s
 Pleasanter than all?