1.

Ah gentle flowers!

Long time enough my life has run,

To twine dear thoughts, with every one,

That blooms in bowers.

2.

My couch beside,

When I am sick,—each flings a scent

Of its own story redolent,

O’er memory’s tide.

3.

There’s pert heartsease!

The boy’s own flower shall still be mine

While thoughts of childhood’s auld-lang-syne,

My heart can please.

4.

The parlour’s pride,

Sweet hyacinth—thy full perfume

Reminds of home—the curtained room,

And warm fireside.

5.

The primrose lone,

I see it ever on its stalk,

Flush in my favorite woodland walk

Spring’s first full-blown.

6.

And crocus, too,

I’ve seen it up on Easter-day;

Sweet symbol, from the frozen clay

Rising anew!

7.

The coiled woodbine,

Brings some fair cottager to sight,

That to her lattice, trails aright

Its tangled vine.

8.

Rose—red or pale,

Yellow or mossy—who shall sing,

Thy fragrant memories, queenly thing,

Or tell their tale!

9.

Starred jessamine!

Thy glory shall adorn my bride’s,

With orange-blossoms, wreathed besides

Her tresses in!

10.

And by her bower,

I’ll plant the falling eardrop’s grace,

Whose lady-blossoms hide their face

From sun and shower.

11.

And she shall set

The lily near, to favour me,

And myrtles, and sad rosemary

And mignonette.

12.

And I will plant

One flower beside—and say to her,

I’ve nursed it for my monitor;

This thou shalt grant;

13.

In life’s last hour,

To tell me of the Crucified,

Oh set alone my couch beside

The passion-flower.

14.

And on my tomb,

Plant deathless amaranth, for I

Would rise in immortality,

And endless bloom.