210 THE CHILD IN THE GARDEN 



A lilac-tree and a guelder-rose, 



A broom, and a tiger-lily ; 

 And I walked a dozen miles to find 



The true wild daffodilly. 



I had columbines, both pink and blue, 

 And thalictrum like a feather ; 



And the bright goat's-beard, that shuts its 



leaves 

 Before a change of weather. 



I had marigolds and gilliflowers, 

 And pinks all pinks exceeding ; 



I'd a noble root of love-in-a-mist, 

 And plenty of love-lies-bleeding. 



I had Jacob's ladder, Aaron's rod, 

 And the peacock-gentianella ; 



I had asters more than I can tell, 

 And lupins blue and yellow. 



I set a grain of Indian corn, 



One day in an idle humour, 

 And the grain sprang up six feet or more, 



My glory for a summer. 



I found far off in the pleasant fields 

 More flowers than I can mention ; 



I found the English asphodel, 



And the spring and autumn gentian. 



