This I saw on an April day：

    Warm rain spilt from a sun-lined cloud，

    A sky-flung wave of gold at evening，

    And a cock pheasant treading a dusty path

    Shy and proud.

    And this I found in an April field：

    A new white calf¹ in the sun at noon，

    A flash of blue in a cool moss² bank，

    And tips of tulips promising³ flowers

    To a blue-winged loon⁴.

    And this I tried to understand

    As I scrubbed the rust⁵ from my brightening plow⁶：

    The movement of seed in furrowed⁷ earth，

    And a blackbird whistling sweet and clear

    From a green-sprayed bough⁸.