Paid In Advance
by
What is the cost of a day in Spring–
A wind-swept, rain-washed golden day?
A day that with joy is bubbling–
And dancing adown a world mad-gay?
You’ve paid for that day with days gone by–
The gloomy days and the days of rain;
The days that you’d like to forget–and try–
Days that were tuned to a note of pain.
Others there are who will never forget
The lowering clouds and the sodden world,
But–though you paid as they paid, eyes wet–
Your banner of courage was still unfurled!
That was the price of this day in June,
Paid in advance with a shrug and a smile–
While others complained, you heard a tune,
Making the gloomiest day worth while!