noon
It was written on the precious half-sheets in queer little crabbed characters , very distinctly : -- Slips round the steady year , Days dawn and disappear , Winters and springs ; March storms and clouds and rain , Till April once again Light with it brings . Then comes the summer song , Birds in the woods prolong Day into night . Hot after tepid showers Beats down this sun of ours , Upward the radiant flowers Look their delight . O summer scents at noon ! O summer nights and moon ! Season of story . Labour and love for ever Strengthen each hard endeavour , Now climb we up or never , Upward to glory !