Wed Last Spring, from "Picture Poesies"
Not on view
Houghton's image of a young man and woman standing close together in a grove and looking at flowers. The print first appeared in "A Round of Days" (1866, see 65.629.1), engraved by the Dalziel Brothers and published by Routledge. It was here reissued in "Picture Poesies" (1874) to illustrate a poem by Tom Hood.
Wed Last Spring
Two days ago the winter was not done,
Now the world is flooded full of sun—
Is brimming o'er with sights and sounds of Spring :
T'is the world's birthday; sorrow is there none,
Because all hearts must sing.
Now, clumps of primroses, like clots of cream,
Hid violets, like kisses in a dream;
While from the blue that disembodied song,
Which is the lark, or so the poets deem,
Drops clear, and sweet, and strong.
Pink tassels on the larches overhead,
And golden catkins in the sallow bed;
And o'er the fields, in hopeful patience sown,
A tender veil of emerald green is spread—
How the young wheat has grown!
What though short showers whisper in the leaves,
And hang their diamonds on the on the dripping eaves!
And not your eyes, love, wet with happy tears,
Which do but nurture, so my heart believes,
Sweet fruit for coming years?
