[Poems by Jackson in] Pansies and orchids designs of pansies, snow-drops, heather, and wild rose : orchids : nasturtiums : geraniums |
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The Orchid |
 | [Poems by Jackson in] Pansies and orchids |  |
The Orchid
No mortal blossom this, which feeds on airTranscending in its lowliest estate,
All laws which other flowers obey await;
All tints of jewels, lines of gravers rare,
All hues of plumage lavished on its wear.
At home in palaces of rich and great,
In unknown peasants' meadows never late;
What is the spell this wondrous life doth bear?
Is it a prisoned soul that helpless, mute,
For some wrong died which bore a bitter fruit
Doth thus its seal of expiation win?
I think such royal prison house had been
Reward, not punishment. Fate! Hear my suit!
Give me a thousand years for every sin!
H. H.
| [Poems by Jackson in] Pansies and orchids | |