 | The Poems of A. C. Benson |  |
181
NASTURTIUMS
Leaves luxurious, large,
Hung like moons on the stalk,
Sprawling from marge to marge,
Fringing my garden walk,
Supple and sleek you twine,
Facing the tranquil west,
Velvety-veined, each line
Breathing of warmth and rest.
Hung like moons on the stalk,
Sprawling from marge to marge,
Fringing my garden walk,
Supple and sleek you twine,
Facing the tranquil west,
Velvety-veined, each line
Breathing of warmth and rest.
Then when the waiting earth
Thrills at the touch of spring,
Stung into sudden birth,
Up to the light you fling
Passionate-hued, like fire,
Petal and pointed horn,
Restless as sharp desire,
Dainty as virgin scorn.
Thrills at the touch of spring,
Stung into sudden birth,
Up to the light you fling
Passionate-hued, like fire,
Petal and pointed horn,
Restless as sharp desire,
Dainty as virgin scorn.
So should the singer go,
Drinking the friendly air,
Calm, unimpassioned, slow;—
Then in a moment rare,
Loosing the pent desire,
Thrilled with a reckless might,
Break into fury and fire,
Sparkle and flash with light.
Drinking the friendly air,
Calm, unimpassioned, slow;—
Then in a moment rare,
182
Thrilled with a reckless might,
Break into fury and fire,
Sparkle and flash with light.
| The Poems of A. C. Benson | |