To what purpose, April, do you return again?
Beauty is not enough.
You can no longer quiet me with the redness
Of little leaves opening stickily.
I know what I know.
The sun is hot on my neck as I observe
The spikes of crocus.
The smell of the earth is good.
It is apparent that there is no death.
But what does that signify?
Utilizing the word  spikes  instead of  petals  was intentional. Millay is implying that crocus (a symbol for Spring) is beautiful, but when closely observed, there is something vicious about it. 

Spring