 | Poems of "Frank Forester" (Henry William Herbert) |  |
55
THE MAGNOLIA.—I.
Not in the autumn pale and cold,
When flowers of frailer beauty fade,
When sombre hues the woods unfold,
And violets droop beneath their shade.
When flowers of frailer beauty fade,
When sombre hues the woods unfold,
And violets droop beneath their shade.
Sweet flower, thou bloom'st in lonely grace;
But when at radiant summer's call
Her bright one woo the wind's embrace,
Thou shin'st the loveliest of them all.
But when at radiant summer's call
Her bright one woo the wind's embrace,
Thou shin'st the loveliest of them all.
The wild rose rears its glowing head
Beside thee, emulous, but in vain;
Soft leaves and buds their odors shed,
But thou art sweetest of the train.
Beside thee, emulous, but in vain;
Soft leaves and buds their odors shed,
But thou art sweetest of the train.
No rival 'neath the summer heaven,
Majestic flower, thine empire shares;
And thus the bard to thee hath given
A deeper meaning far than theirs.
Majestic flower, thine empire shares;
And thus the bard to thee hath given
A deeper meaning far than theirs.
This volume, too, amid the throng
That shine with evanescent grace
In the gay garb of smile and song,
Would claim, like thee, the brightest place;
That shine with evanescent grace
In the gay garb of smile and song,
Would claim, like thee, the brightest place;
Yet would not droop, like thee, away,
When days of light grow dark and chill;
But, like the truth thy leaves display,
Be fragrant and unfading still.
When days of light grow dark and chill;
But, like the truth thy leaves display,
Be fragrant and unfading still.
| Poems of "Frank Forester" (Henry William Herbert) | |