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Flower Pieces and other poems

By William Allingham: With two designs by Dante Gabriel Rossetti
  

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13

XI. CHRYSANTHEMUM.

The rustic family of Oxeyes claim
A royal Cousin, clad in purple and gold,
Pearl, ruby, fleecy colours such as fold
The couching sun, and with a lofty name,
Chrysanthemum—appearing bright and bold
To startle poor November with a flame
Of sumptuous flowerage, making summer tame,
And flush with Eastern pomp the dark and cold.
Voyager from Japan and broad Cathay,
The slant-eyed Yellow People love thee much
(All Humans love a flow'r), and know the way
To fix their garden favourite with fine touch
In shapes of art: how joyful we to clutch
Their gifts—but shall we clasp their hands one day