Gladys Taber would have celebrated her 100th. birthday,
April 12th 1999.

Song for April

Once more the winter night reluctantly
Draws back her tides along the shore of spring.
The drift lies fugitive upon the lea
In foam, and whiter snow the snowdrops bring,
Presaging summer's full security.
The brook unbound makes silver murmuring,
Rosy the flowers on the maple tree
And in the swamp at night the hylas sing.

This is the proof, this April testament
That from the dark earth springs the secret seed
Instinct with life; this is the sacrament
Which manifests God's answer to man's need.

Tell me no more that loss endures, or pain,
When lilacs bud along the country lane.

The Book of Stillmeadow

Spring Lullaby

Softly and swiftly the wings of the night
Enfolded the earth in the fast fading light.
And over a little white farm far below,
The April moonbeams cast a silvery glow.
Each new leaf and blossom, each bird in her nest
Lies slumbering now in a world safe at rest.
While the stars gazed down, their watch to keep
On this newly-born season lulled gently to sleep.

From out of the silence, a whispering breeze
Caught the branches and danced in the old maple trees.
It ruffled the daffodil's dew-dappled face
As it cheerily flitted from place to place.
Through the old wooden gate, past the green hill beyond,
Where it rippled and played on the glimmering pond.
Then, high in the willows a robin awoke,
His clear morning song filled with wonder and hope.
Stilled by such beauty and with a sweet sigh,
The breeze soared home to the firmament high.

It's spring at Stillmeadow, This place that I love,
As dawn breaks in rose-violet pearls up above.

Susan Stanley
4/12/99

(PS I'm not much of a poet - and I know it, but it came from my heart :)

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