LAURA is the first to seek
Rime of March in wildwood bleak;
First to mourn the aster’s death,
Withered by November’s breath;
Every glade and glen she knows
Where the coy spring-beauty grows,
Searches sunny slope and dell
For the pearl or golden bell
Of the quivering addertongue
By the wandering zephyr swung;
She and April, comrades boon,
Hail the early-crowned puccoon;
In the dingle lone she sees
Tremulous anemones;
From the breast of June she takes
Columbines and plumy brakes;
Not a daisy she’ll forget,
Nor the humblest violet.
Lilies proud, on stately stalks,
Bow to greet her where she walks;
Roses to her pathway lean,
Queens saluting lovelier queen,
Emulous to win her eyes,
Rivals for self-sacrifice;
BlessÉd they whom she shall choose
Though their fragrant lives they lose!
Joyful the elected flower
Which may triumph one brief hour,
Mingled with the clustered few,
Musical in form and hue!
Thus sweet notes that singly please
Join in chordant melodies!
So do gathered fancies twine
Graceful in the rhythmic line;—
Like a perfect lyric lay
Laura’s exquisite bouquet.