Some banks cropped close, and lawns smooth mown and green, Where, when a daisy's guiltless face was seen, Its pretty head came sacrifice to pride Of human taste -- I saw upon the side Of a steep hill. Without a branch of wood Plants, giant-leaved, like boneless bodies stood. The flowers had colonies, not one was seen To go astray from its allotted green, But to the light like mermaids' faces came From waves of green, and scarce two greens the same. And everywhere man's ingenuity On fence and bordering: for I could see The tiny scaffolding to hold the heads And faces overgrown of flowers in beds On which their weak-developed frames must fall, Had they not such support upright and tall. There was a fountain, and its waters' leap Was under a full-quivered Cupid's keep. And from his mother's lip the spray was blown Upon adjusted rock, selected stone; And so was placed that all the waters fell Into a small ravine in a small dell, And made a stream, where that wee river raved, As gold his rocks and margent amber paved. This park, it was a miracle of care, But sweeter far to me the prospects there: The far beyond, where lived Romance near seas And pools in haze, and in far realms of trees. I saw where Severn had run wide and free, Out where the Holms lie flat upon a sea Whose wrinkles wizard Distance smoothed away, And still sails flecked its face of silver-grey. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A CHILD'S THOUGHT OF GOD by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING LINCOLN by NICHOLAS VACHEL LINDSAY WEARINESS by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW TO THE MEMORY OF THOMAS HOOD by BARTHOLOMEW SIMMONS NOREMBEGA by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER |