Flower of Song 5 1 



Here a cock began to crow! 



The little hands dropped that had clung so tight, 



And I saw again by the pale dawnlight 



The Iris-heads in a row. 



Michael Field: Iris. 



O'er water-daisies and wild waifs of Spring, 

 There where the Iris rears its gold-crowned sheaf 

 With flowering rush and sceptred arrow-leaf, 

 So have I marked Queen Dian, in bright ring 

 Of cloud above and wave below, take wing 

 And chase night's gloom, as thou the spirit's grief. 



Rossetti: Gracious Moonlight. 



I have sown upon the fields 

 Eyebright and Pimpernel, 



* * * * * 



King-cup and Fleur-de-lys 

 Upon the marsh to meet 

 With Comfrey, Watermint, 

 Loose-strife and Meadowsweet. 



Bridges: The Idle Flowers. 



Ah! there's the lily, marble pale, 

 The bonny broom, the cistus frail; 

 The rich sweet pea, the Iris blue, 

 The larkspur with its peacock hue; 

 All these are fair, yet hold I will 

 That the Rose of May is fairer still. 



Mary Hoivitt: Rose of May 



