FLOWER of the deep red zone, Rain the fine light about thee, near and far, Hold the wide earth, so as the evening star Holdeth all heaven, alone, And with thy wondrous glory make men see His greater glory who did fashion thee! Sing, little goldfinch, sing! Make the rough billows lift their curly ears And listen, fill the violet's eyes with tears, Make the green leaves to swing As in a dance, when thou dost hie along, Showing the sweetness whence thou get'st thy song. O daisies of the hills, When winds do pipe to charm ye, be not slow. Crowd up, crowd up, and make your shoulders show White o'er the daffodils! Yea, shadow forth through your excelling grace With whom ye have held counsel face to face. Fill full our desire, Gray grasses; trick your lowly stems with green, And wear your splendors even as a queen Weareth her soft attire. Unfold the cunning mystery of design That combs out all your skirts to ribbons fine. And O my heart, my heart, Be careful to go strewing in and out Thy way with good deeds, lest it come about That when thou shalt depart, No low lamenting tongue be found to say, The world is poorer since thou went'st away! Thou shouldst not idly beat, While beauty draweth good men's thoughts to prayer Even as the bird's wing draweth out the air, But make so fair and sweet Thy house of clay, some dusk shall spread about, When death unlocks the door and lets thee out. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...JOHANNES AGRICOLA IN MEDITATION by ROBERT BROWNING AFTER THE BURIAL by JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL BEAVER BROOK by JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL A MARLOW MADRIGAL by JOSEPH ASHBY-STERRY LILIES: 1. THE GREAT WAVE by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) THE IVY; ADDRESSED TO A YOUNG FRIEND by BERNARD BARTON IN VINCULIS; SONNETS WRITTEN IN AN IRISH PRISON: DEEDS MIGHT HAVE BEEN by WILFRID SCAWEN BLUNT |