CARNATIONS IN WINTER 145 



Earthward he boweth the heavy stalks 

 Of the mouldering flowers : 



Heavily hangs the broad sunflower 

 Over its grave i' the earth so chilly ; 

 Heavily hangs the hollyhock, 



Heavily hangs the tiger-lily. 



The air is damp, and hush'd, and close, 



As a sick man's room when he taketh repose 



An hour before death ; 



My very heart faints and my whole soul grieves 

 At the moist rich smell of the rotting leaves, 



And the breath 



Of the fading edges of box beneath, 

 And the year's last rose. 



Heavily hangs the broad sunflower 



Over its grave i' the earth so chilly ; 



Heavily hangs the hollyhock, 



Heavily hangs the tiger-lily. 



ALFEED, LOED TENNYSON. 



CARNATIONS IN WINTER 



YOUR carmine flakes of bloom to-night 

 The fire of wintry sunsets hold ; 



Again in dreams you burn to light 

 A far Canadian garden old. 



The blue north summer over it 

 Is bland with long ethereal days ; 



The gleaming martins wheel and flit 



Where breaks your sun down Orient ways. 



K 



