 | The Burdens of Belief and Other Poems |  |
A CROSS OF FLOWERS
She brought me such a lovely cross
As I had never seen,—
Of water lilies and of moss,
Rare gold and silver sheen.
As I had never seen,—
Of water lilies and of moss,
Rare gold and silver sheen.
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The radiant petals on it lay,
Full opened to the skies;
And yellow anthers hailed the day
With rich and grateful eyes.
Full opened to the skies;
And yellow anthers hailed the day
With rich and grateful eyes.
To her pale hand the patient lake
Its starry treasures gave,
That she might lay them for his sake
Upon the new-made grave.
Its starry treasures gave,
That she might lay them for his sake
Upon the new-made grave.
‘But they will droop, my sister dear,
Ere they can reach his side.’
‘I care not; but I do not fear,’
The loving child replied.
Ere they can reach his side.’
‘I care not; but I do not fear,’
The loving child replied.
Yes! She was right, and I was wrong.
The true reply she made.
The flowers might die; but love was strong:—
Her gathering cannot fade.
The true reply she made.
The flowers might die; but love was strong:—
Her gathering cannot fade.
| The Burdens of Belief and Other Poems | |