University of Virginia Library


88

MARGUERITES.

Lady in the Daisy's vesture,
Dazzling white relieved with gold,
Free from all affected gesture
As the flower, not too bold,
Though thou fearest nought, thou art
Truly the flower's counterpart.
For although in form and features
There are few of womankind
Fair as thou, of all God's creatures
Thou art humblest in thy mind;
Yet thou fearest not to stand
By the proudest in the land.

89

Just as, though in all creation
Flower perfecter is not,
It is with its simple station,
In a quiet garden-plot,
As content as though it were
In a palace sojourner.
Yet if on a queenly bosom
In a chaplet it is laid
With the rose and lily-blossom,
Though their worship first be paid,
Afterwards it is confessed
Lovely, if not loveliest.
Thou art upright as the flower,
Art as purely raimented,
And thou hast a golden-dower,
As it has, upon thy head,
And, like it, dost dread no stain
From the sun or wind or rain.

90

Farewell Daisies, flower-like maiden,
And thou, flower-Marguerite!
May you be with dawn-dew laden
Through the day to keep you sweet,
And no dust or heat of noon
Sully you or make you swoon!