SONGS AND CHORUS OF THE FLOWERS. 243 



POPPIES. 



WE are slumbering poppies, 



Lords of Lethe downs, 

 Some awake, and some asleep, 



Sleeping in our crowns. 

 What perchance our dreams may know, 

 Let our serious beauty show. 



Central depth of purple, 



Leaves more bright than rose 

 Who shall tell what brightest thought 



Out of darkest grows ? 

 Who, through what funereal pain, 

 Souls to love and peace attain ? 



Visions aye are on us, 



Unto eyes of power ; 

 Pluto's always-setting sun, 



And Proserpine's bower : 

 There, like bees, the pale souls come 

 For our drink, with drowsy hum. 



Taste, ye mortals, also ; 



Milky-hearted, we ; 

 Taste, but with a reverent care ; 



Active-patient be. 



