"tightly as the catkins upstream"

THE CATKINS ON THE WILLOW

Oh, I love thee, smiling Spring!
  Thou art young and thou art fair;
Now my happy thoughts take wing,
  Light as birds through boundless air.
Now my young blood gushes free,
Now my heart bounds joyously--
Now my mornings all are bright,
And I never sigh for night,
  When the catkin's on the willow--
  Downy catkins on the willow.

Who'd not love thee, beauteous Spring,
  Full of hope and full of joy?
Who with rapture would not sing
  When the catkin's on the willow--
  Downy catkins on the willow.

Thankless hearts may mourn in Spring,
  But the pure are always gay;
Then whatever fate may ring
  Let us meekly, humbly say
"'Tis the will of Heaven above,
Whose example teacheth love
And deep reverence."  So we bow
To the eternal law, which now
  Sends the catkin's on the willow--
  Downy catkins to the willow.

James Madson, 1863