A beautiful Victorian poem on Springtime, from the relatively unknown poet Robert Williams Buchanan’s 1867 collection titled Wayside Posies.

SHADOW AND SUBSTANCE

The sun is bright in the meadow,

The Spring flowers blow, Nell stands by the stream, and her shadow

Glimmers below ; And I try to muster the daring

To creep more near, And whisper the passion past bearing

Into her ear.

Her eyelids droop while she fishes.

Her eyes look down ! — But while I whispered my wishes.

If Nell should frown, I think I should turn to self-slaughter

As something sweet. And, embracing her shade in the water,

Die at her feet !