Poems in Two Volumes, Volume 2: To the Same Flower

To the Same Flower

  Bright Flower, whose home is every where!
  A Pilgrim bold in Nature's care,
  And all the long year through the heir
        Of joy or sorrow,
  Methinks that there abides in thee
  Some concord with humanity,
  Given to no other Flower I see
        The forest thorough!
  Is it that Man is soon deprest?
  A thoughtless Thing! who, once unblest,                  10
  Does little on his memory rest,
        Or on his reason,
  And Thou would'st teach him how to find
  A shelter under every wind.
  A hope for times that are unkind
        And every season?
  Thou wander'st the wide world about,
  Uncheck'd by pride or scrupulous doubt,
  With friends to greet thee, or without,
        Yet pleased and willing;                           20
  Meek, yielding to the occasion's call,
  And all things suffering from all,
  Thy function apostolical
        In peace fulfilling.

Back to chapter list of: Poems in Two Volumes, Volume 2