University of Virginia Library

THREE SONNETS. THE ORIGIN OF THE FORGET-ME-NOT.

I.

Eden all fresh, just finished by the Lord,
Glowed with rich beauty, marvellously fair;
Bright flowers like jewels gemmed the dewy sward,
And filled with fragrance all the balmy air.
God looking on His world, pronounced it good,
Perfect throughout, from greatest unto least;
Adam, Creation's crown, in glory stood
His Maker's image, Nature's King and Priest.
To him each beast of field or forest came,
All lowly crouching, fawning at his feet,
To which he gave, as fitted each, a name,
An appellation to their instincts meet;
And birds of air folded their downy wings,
And waited near him, with all living things.

II.

Then went he round the garden's radiant bowers,
That he might do the same for herb and plant,
And give to all the sweet and starry flowers
The name which now appeared their only want.
Here grew the lily white, and violet fair,
The azure gentian, oxlip, eglantine,
All buds and blooms that scent the summer air,
Some blue, some purple, some as red as wine:
Some barred with gold, or striped and pied with green,
Some drooping, slender, some erect and tall,
But lovely each, and of a glossy sheen;
And Adam named them, thought he named them all,
But as he moved away his ear was caught,—
There came a pleading voice, “Forget-me-not!”

III.

Hidden within its leaves, he had passed by
This modest little flower, so very fair,
And had not seen its gold and azure eye,
Nor knew it grew in tender beauty there,
Till there came whispering thro' its slender leaves
A voice so low, 'twas tho' a zephyr sighed,—
Regretfully as one who mourns and grieves—
“Forget-me-not! forget-me-not!” it cried.
Hence has this flower its name; and far above
All others it is dear to friendship's heart,
Is consecrated wholly now to love,
A gift till time shall end, when dear ones part,
Who to each other, weeping their sad lot,
Thro' this sweet flower shall say, “Forget-me-not.”