226 
CELANDINE. 
Soon as gentle breezes bring 
News of winter’s vanishing. 
And the children build their bowers. 
Sticking ’kerchief plots of mould 
All about with full-blown flowers, 
Thick as sheep in shepherd’s fold! 
With the proudest Thou art there, 
Mantling in the tiny square. 
Blithe of heart, from week to week 
Thou dost play at hide-and-seek ; 
While the patient primrose sits 
Like a beggar in the cold, 
Thou, a flower of wiser wits, 
Slipp’st into thy sheltered hold ; 
Bright as any of the train 
When ye all are out again. 
Thou art not beyond the moon, 
But a thing ‘ beneath our shoon : ” 
Let the bold adventurer thrid 
In his bark the polar sea 5 
Rear who will a pyramid ; 
Praise it is enough for me, 
If there be but three or four 
Who will love my little flower. 
