FLORA AND THALIA. 117 



SPARE MY FLOWER. 



Oh spare my flower, ray gentle flower, 



The slender creature of a day ! 

 Let it bloom out its little hour, . 

 And pass away. 

 Too soon its fleeting charms must lie 



Decayed, unnoticed, overthrown ; 

 O, hasten not its destiny. 



Too like thy own. 



The breeze will roam this way to-morrow, 



And sigh to find its playmate gone : 

 The bee will come its sweets to borrow, 

 And meet with none. 

 O spare ! and let it still outspread 

 Its beauties to the passing eye, 

 And look up from its lowly bed. 

 Upon the sky. 



O spare my flower ! thou know'st not what 



Thy undiscerning hand would tear ; 

 A thousand charms thou notest not, 

 Lie treasured there. 



