32 THE DOTARD CONJURER

Spring is become a dotard conjurer, And his old magic works not any more! No more avails the whisper of friendly leaves; And now the forest is undenizened Of daydreams, which, like elfin outlaws, once Lay hid in wait for every passer-by And pilfered all his sorrows; dawn abates In wonder and tells flatly, It is day, And tells no more than that now; and the night Brews no more philtres; and the moon forgets That ancient wizardry which once was hers. Ah, the old magic works not any more, Though I have known its potency. Perchance, Somewhere a great way off, in Avalon, Atlantis, or the hushed Hesperides, Hearts lighten with the coming in of spring, Even as once. Yes, for this thing has been, And may be yet in far-off Avalon. For it may be in far-off Avalon, Even as once—was it not yesterday?— All forests are akin to Brocelaunde, And fear and beauty keep their heritage And breathe of something hidden in the woods Save birds, and trees, and flowers, and ravenous gnats,— For they are haunted by those messengers That April sends about our woods no more On primal errands. But in Avalon, Fern-carpeted untroubled Avalon, When April wakes and rises, with wind-blown hair And steadfast eyes—when at the tip of the world The sun takes heart a little,—then sturdy April Exults, and summons tricksy ministers To color and flaunt in low, yet-dreaming fields The first flush of the apple-blossoms; and marshal The stout spears of the daffodils; and guide Frail baby clouds about the lonely heavens; And polish frost-nipped stars; and re-awaken Warm gracious land-winds where the restive waters Shout to the glistening sands and hunger all night With impotent desire of the naked moon. Yes; this may be, in far-off Avalon. Here the old magic works not any more: And Spring, a dotard conjurer, forgets The runes and sorceries of yesterday, And may at best evoke but tenuous visions,— Faint-hearted dreams that people the turbid past With half-seen faces and derisive laughter;— And there is nothing hidden in the woods Save birds, and trees, and flowers, and ravenous gnats, And, under all, dead and decaying leaves. Nay, under all, dead and decaying leaves Enrich that mould which bred them, and whereby The tree is nourished and new leaves put forth.