Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, TO A TEXAS PRIMROSE, by OLIVE TILFORD DARGAN


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

TO A TEXAS PRIMROSE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: A flake of cloud was trembling cast
Last Line: This side of castaly.
Alternate Author Name(s): Burke, Fielding
Subject(s): Primroses


A flake of cloud was trembling cast
Where April walked in dew;
Earth loved the alien, made it fast;
It blushed, and then was you.

So light it seems you'd upward go,
Then tender turn and cling
And like a maid 'tween nod and no
Grow sweeter wavering.

Still in two worlds you hold a dower;
The snowdrop of the air,
And rose of earth, here one in flower
A double beauty dare.

But this thing lack you. (May it be
You will not lack it long!)
You've no estate in poesy,
No pedigree in song.

What lovers of the stern frontier
Here halted, no less brave
For wondering how you'd glowing cheer
An uncompanioned grave!

Heroes, but not of those who go
To conquest pen in hand,
So left your loveliness to blow
Unmeasured and unscanned.

Royal your robe from ancient time,
Ere rose and daffodil,
But must for want of broidered rhyme
Kirtle a gypsy still.

So meekly shining, shyly gay,
And so for music meet,
I wonder what would happen, say,
If I were Herrick, sweet.

Ah, he would smuggle you somehow
Into the Muses' hall,
And proud court flowers there should bow
To a new queen lineal.

With hint and smile he'd fix your sound
Unquestioned dynasty,
Sending the happy whisper round,
Beauty is pedigree.

And Grasmere's sage, if hereabout
He found your face at dawn,
Would silent sit the full day out,
And dark would come too soon.

Then mumbling home he'd take you too,
Imprisoned in a line,
And ne'er would you need sun or dew
Who there so fixed would shine.

O delicate barbarian,
I've no immortal art
To sing you as the laurelled can,
But travel in my heart,

And though my way be bare and brown
And many a mile we see,
I vow I will not set you down
This side of Castaly.





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