MY GARDEN 35 



Had he done so, himself had borne the crown, 

 Which waste of idle hours hath quite thrown down. 



WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE. 



MY GARDEN 



IT blossomed by the summer sea, 

 A tiny space of tangled bloom 

 Wherein so many flowers found room, 



A miracle it seemed to be ! 



Up from the ground, alert and bright, 

 The pansies laughed in gold and jet, 

 Purple and pied, and mignonette 



Breathed like a spirit of delight 



Flaming the rich nasturtiums ran 

 Along the fence, and marigolds 

 " Opened afresh their starry folds " 



In beauty as the day began ; 



While ranks of scarlet poppies gay 



Waved when the soft south wind did blow, 

 Superb in sunshine, to and fro, 



Like soldiers proud in brave array. 



And tall blue larkspur waved its spikes 

 Against the sea's deep violet, 

 That every breeze makes deeper yet 



With splendid azure where it strikes ; 



