WHAT have I done?— I am a little flower, Out of many a one That twinkles forth after each passing shower. White, with a blushful glow, In the sweet meadows I grow, Or innocent over the hill tops sport and run.— What have I done? Many an age agone, Before man walked on earth, I was. In the sun I shone; I shook in the wind with mirth; And danced on the high tops looking out seaward— where I had birth. Web-footed monsters came And into the darkness went In ponderous tournament, Many an age agone. But on the high tops I dwelt ever the same, With sisters many a one, Guiltless of sin and shame!— What have I done? What have I done?—@3Man@1 came, Evolutional upstart one! With the gift of giving a name To everything under the sun. What have I done?—Man came (They say nothing sticks like dirt). Looked at me with eyes of blame And called me "Squinancy-wort." What have I done? I linger (I cannot say that I live) In the happy lands of my birth; Passers-by point with the finger; For me the light of the sun Is darkened. Oh, what would I give To creep away and hide my shame in the earth!— What have I done? Yet there is hope. I have seen Many changes since I began. The web-footed beasts have been (Dear beasts!)—and gone, being part of some wider plan. Perhaps in his infinite mercy God will remove this Man! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SONNET TO LAKE LEMAN by GEORGE GORDON BYRON SPRING SONG by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR ROBERT E. LEE by JULIA WARD HOWE IN EARLIEST SPRING by WILLIAM DEAN HOWELLS AN HORATIAN ODE UPON CROMWELL'S RETURN FROM IRELAND by ANDREW MARVELL |