University of Virginia Library


471

TO DAFFODILS

(TO A. J. M.)
O yellow flowers by Herrick sung!
O yellow flowers that danced and swung
In Wordsworth's verse, and now to me,
Unworthy, from this “pleasant lea,”
Laugh back, unchanged and ever young;—
Ah, what a text to us o'erstrung,
O'erwrought, o'erreaching, hoarse of lung,
You teach by that immortal glee,
O yellow flowers!
We, by the Age's œstrus stung,
Still hunt the New with eager tongue,
Vexed ever with the Old, but ye,
What ye have been ye still shall be,
When we are dust the dust among,
O yellow flowers!