ALT: a cartoon illustration of a deer standing in a field of flowers

From time immemorial, spring’s awakening has signaled to humanity the promise of new beginnings. In William Shakespeare’s “Sonnet 98,” a love poem published in 1609, the prolific poet and playwright personifies the glorious month of April as the herald of youth, vitality, and hope. For the Bard, the coming of spring — the twittering birds, ambrosial flowers, and long-awaited sunny skies — brought with it all the delights of a fresh start.