42
Floral Poetry.
There, as in solitude and shade I wander,
Through the green aisles, or stretched upon the sod,
Awed by the silence, reverently ponder
The ways of God.
Through the green aisles, or stretched upon the sod,
Awed by the silence, reverently ponder
The ways of God.
Your voiceless lips, O flowers! are living preachers,
Each cup a pulpit, and each leaf a book,
Supplying to my fancy numerous teachers
From loneliest nook.
Each cup a pulpit, and each leaf a book,
Supplying to my fancy numerous teachers
From loneliest nook.
Floral apostles! that in dewy splendour,
"Weep without woe, and blush without a crime,"
O may I deeply learn, and ne'er surrender
Your lore sublime!
"Weep without woe, and blush without a crime,"
O may I deeply learn, and ne'er surrender
Your lore sublime!
"Thou wert not, Solomon, in all thy glory,
Arrayed," the lilies cry, "in robes like ours;
How vain your grandeur! ah, how transitory
Are human flowers!"
Arrayed," the lilies cry, "in robes like ours;
How vain your grandeur! ah, how transitory
Are human flowers!"
In the sweet-scented pictures, heavenly Artist!
With which thou paintest Nature's widespread hall,
What a delightful lesson thou impartest
Of love to all!
With which thou paintest Nature's widespread hall,
What a delightful lesson thou impartest
Of love to all!
Not useless are ye, flowers, though made for pleasure,
Blooming o'er field and wave by day and night,
From every source your sanction bids me treasure
Harmless delight.
Blooming o'er field and wave by day and night,
From every source your sanction bids me treasure
Harmless delight.
Ephemeral sages what instructors hoary
For such a world of thought could furnish scope?
Each fading calyx a memento mori,
Yet fount of hope.
For such a world of thought could furnish scope?
Each fading calyx a memento mori,
Yet fount of hope.
