After the Winter Rain
Ina Coolbrith

After the winter rain,
Sing, robin, sing swallow!
Grasses are in the lane,
Buds and flowers will follow.

Woods shall ring, blithe and gay,
With bird trill and twitter,
Though the skies weep to-day,
And the winds are bitter.

Though deep call unto deep
As calls the thunder,
And white the billow leap
The tempest under;

Softly the waves shall come
Up the long, bright beaches,
With dainty, flower of form
And teaderest speeches…

After the wintry rain,
And the long, long sorrow,
Sing heart!–for thee again,
Joy comes with thee morrow.

Ina Coolbrith was born July 10, 1841 in Illinois, served
as the first poet laureate of California from 1915 to
until her death February 29, 1928.

–Byung A.