THE POESY OF FLOWERS. 



TO THE PASSION FLOWER.* 



' And the faint Passion Flower, the sad and holy, 

 Tell of diviner hopes.' 



Hemaru. 



Mystic and holy flower! 



How many hallowed thoughts are blent with thee! 

 How bright the promise thou hast brought to me, 



In my heart's dimmest hour. 



A shadow of the past! 

 A token, a memorial thou art, 

 Bearing a spirit's tone unto my heart, 



That through this life will last. 



Strange and heart-lifting flower! 

 Records of Passion on thy leaves I trace, 

 Stamped with the seal of God in beauty-grace, 



And mystery of his power. 



Emblem of hope and love, 

 Uplifted in the sunshine of his smile, 

 May I, like thee, free from ' earth-stain and guile, 



Glow wavingly above. 



On my o'er-wearied breast, 

 A sense of holiness, sweet flower, thou 'st cast, 

 A yearning wish, that ' life's brief joy' were past, 



For ' here we may not rest!' 



Thy flowers for me unfold! 

 (Like shadowed waters beautiful they are,) 

 For them my lips have hymn my heart a prayer, 



To this dim world untold! 



Thou hast waked in my breast 

 A Faith a Hope to which I firmly cling, 

 A Prayer when my freed spirit takes its wing, 



Like thee, flower, to be blest! 



AnntHoj*. 



PaasiflbraCerulea. 



