Scarlet and Blue Larkspur 



California has msLny beautiful larkspurs 

 growing on plain and mountain-side in colors 

 of red, white or blue. The sketch on the page 

 opposite is of blossoms found in a canon of 

 Napa County where they were growing in 

 masses — a bed of red or one of royal blue. 

 In the southern part of California, the red 

 larkspur grows to a height of fully ten feet. 

 The Spanish call these flowers espue/a del 

 caballero^ "the cavalier's spur." 



Rather this wayside flower, 



To live its happy hour 

 Of balmy air, of sunshine, and of dew. 

 A sinless face held upward to the blue; 



A bird-song sung to it, 



A butterfly to flit 

 On dazzling wings above it, hither, thither- 

 A sweet surprise of life — and then exhale 

 A little fragrant soul on the soft gale. 



To float — ah! whither? 



Ina D. Coolbrith 



[4] 



