Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, TULIPS, by FRANCES HALLEY BROCKETT


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

TULIPS, by                    
First Line: A thousand tulip bulbs she bought last autumn
Last Line: The beauty that she grubbed and planted for.
Subject(s): Flowers; Gardens & Gardening; Plants; Spring; Tulips; Planting; Planters


A thousand tulip bulbs she bought last Autumn,
And took them to her own small garden place.
She worked for days, just digging, planting;
I loafed and read and watched her eager face;

"What grubby work!" I said. "You really like it?"
She waved her grimy fingers, smiled at me:
"It's grubby now, but wait till spring!" she answered;
"Can't you just see the loveliness they'll be?

"All these tulips blowing gay along the hedges—
"Flame and glory running down the garden walks—
"Lily cups all brimming full of sunset—
"Rose, lilac, gold, on slim and swaying stalks!"

Last fall. But winter came and claimed all gardens
It claimed her, too. In our bitter pain
We kept away from her special garden;
It seemed as if Spring could not come again.

It's April now; and all along the hedges
In throbbing beauty, hosts of tulips pour
Their gold and rose and tender shining lilac—
The beauty that she grubbed and planted for.





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