Joseph Wynne Humphreys in uniform"

1943

J. Wynne Humphreys wrote poems while on Arctic convoys, often while under submarine attack: this is one of them.

Written while on active service on H.M.S. Devonshire

SPRINGTIME

When oft' along the lanes I walk

The glories of Spring are ever near,

The birds in tree tops chirp and talk

Their song so sweet and always clear.

They sing to their mates of unbounding love

Just like our Father given from Heaven

We listen to their tunes which lift above

The confines of Earth the Spirit is given

When the sun peeps out from a cloudy sky,

In a patch of blue like a sapphire stone,

The Glory of God shines on high,

He gave his life our sins to atone.

The light above makes the world anew,

It shines on the trees and the hedgerows green,

It light the skies to an azure blue,

The wonders of God are now to be seen.

The flowers open with colours bright,

Shake off their dress of pearly blue,

To paint their heads in Heaven's light,

To gain new like and strength accrue.

Their flaming petal in the green fields spread,

Nodding around in the cool spring breeze,

They nod a greeting with their smiling heads,

And place the doubtful at their ease.

We gaze into the tree tops high,

And see the pale green budding out,

An Artist's hand is surely nigh,

Tis the handiwork God about.

Above the dark and furrowed earth,

The dark green shoots of corn are seen,

They proclaim our new Messiah's birth,

With their waving leaves and silvery sheen.

They are the stems of harvest fair,

Their yield that they so richly give,

So, with our Father in Heaven up there

He gives his love that we may live.

All the earth seems to be alive.

The cattle call as if rejoicing,

The merry bees fly to their hive,

The music sweet the world contenting.

But the hour moves and the time goes on,

Spring leaves her golden throne and mace,

And yields the crown to summer anew,

And God's glory moves on another pace.

Author: Humphreys, Joseph Wynne

Joseph Wynne Humphreys in uniform"

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