And today the snow came! A third Ingemann poem

In snow each bush and plant stands blurred

In snow each bush and plant stands blurred,

outside the cold is stinging,

yet on a branch a little bird

by frozen pane is singing.

Soon time! soon time! – its glad song cleaves

the air, its small wings shaking, -

soon time! each branch will sprout new leaves

soon time! each flower be waking.

Soon time! and life’s tree will turn green,

though frost would fain subdue it,

soon time! and what was but a dream

you shall as truth then view it.

Soon time! and spirit’s winter sleep

will flee at summer’s glory,

soon time, God’s promised hour He’ll keep –

His fair realm ends the story.