THE POESV OF FLOWERS. 246 



TO A WHITE CHRYSANTHEMUM. 



Fair gift of Friendship! and her ever bright 

 And faultless image! welcome now thou art, 



In thy pure loveliness, thy robes of white, 

 Speaking a moral to the feeling heart; 



Unscathed by heats by wintry blasts unmoved, 



Thy strength thus tested and thy charm improved. 



Emblem of innocence, which fearless braves 



Lite's dreariest scenes, its rudest storm derides, 



And floats as calmly on o'er troubled waves, 



As where the peaceful streamlet smoothly glides; 



Thou 'rt blooming now, as beautiful and clear 



As other blossoms do when Spring is here. 



Symbol of hope, still banishing the gloom 



Hung o'er the mind by stern December's reign! 



Thou cheer'st the fancy by the steady bloom, 

 With thoughts of Summer and the fertile plain, 



Culling a thousand visions into play, 



Of beauty redolent, and bright us May. 



Type of a true and holy love ; the same 



Through every scene that clouds life's varied page; 

 Mid grief mid gladness spell of every dream, 



Tender in youth and strong in feeble age! 

 The peerless picture of a modest wife, 

 Thou bloom 'st the fairest mid the frost of life. 



Mrs. Dinnia, 

 21* 



