Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE FLOWERY ALCHEMIST by THOMAS LOVELL BEDDOES

Poet Analysis

First Line: HIST, OH HIST!
Last Line: THOU WILDEST BEE IN BLACK AND YELLOW!
Subject(s): ALCHEMY & ALCHEMISTS; FLOWERS; LOVE; STORY-TELLING;

Hist, oh hist!
My pretty pale young violet,
Thy moony cheek uncover;
Lift that hood of fallen sky,
And my lips once more I'll wet
Against the dew-ball of thine eye.
Hist, oh hist!
So a leafy whisper said
Underneath a sweet-briar shade.
Guess the lady-blossom's lover!
'Twas the flowery Alchymist,
A stinging, gay, intriguing fellow,
The wildest bee in black and yellow.

Hist, oh hist!
My pretty pale young violet!
Glowworm's lightning blind me
When I leave my bud's embrace,
When I traitorously forget
Thy cerulean baby's grace.
Hist, oh hist!

The very next night he told the tale
To a little lily of the vale,
And the poor young violet died of shame.
Oh! fie, thou flowery Alchymist,
That stinging, gay, intriguing fellow,
Thou wildest bee in black and yellow!



Home: PoetryExplorer.net