Poems (Hoffman)/Pansy Faces

by Martha Lavinia Hoffman

PANSY FACES

Oh, the funny pansy faces,
With their odd and wise grimaces,
With their eyes so wide and staring,
 And their cunning, witching ways!
Oh, the pretty pansy faces,
With their royal hues and graces,
Peeping from their shady places,
 Through the spring and summer days!

Oh, the roguish pansy faces,
And the thoughtful pansy faces,
And the haughty pansy faces,
 What a mingled company!
Oh, the purple pansy faces,
And the golden pansy faces,
And the snowy pansy faces,
 What a mottled crowd are they!

How I love the pansy faces,
Smiling from their shady places;
How I love each quaint expression,
 And each sprightly attitude;
Ever lively, glad and cheerful,
Never gloomy, sad and fearful,
With their merry little faces,
 Full of love and gratitude.

Oh, the jolly pansy faces,
Looking from their brimming vases,
Or from out their shady places,
 Nodding to the butterflies!
Pansy faces shy and saucy,
Pansy faces gay and glossy,
Captivating every passer,
 By the magic of their eyes.