POETRY OF FLOWERS. 
173 
OLEANDER 
BEWARE ! 
I KNOW they have pleaded, the friends that are round 
thee ; 
I know they have warned thee, entreated and wept; 
They have shown thee the guile in the spell that hath 
bound thee, [crept. 
And the serpent tvhose coils round thy spirit have 
Yet still the grim cavern yawns wide to receive thee, 
And now, while no terrors thy spirit oppress, 
I urge this last prayer, not to frighten or grieve thee,— 
Oh, no! but to sai:e thee, redeem thee, and bless. 
I pray thee, beseech thee, if e’er thou hast loved me, 
By all our past sorrows, and trials, and tears, 
By all the caprices with which thou hast proved me, 
Return to the truth of thine earlier years ! 
ORANGE-BLOSSOM. 
Citrus aurantium . . . Class 12; Order 12, 
CHASTITY. 
My little bird, my pretty bird, 
Thou once wast wild and free, 
And gaily then thy voice was heard 
In the starry orange-tree. 
Beneath deep skies-of glowing blue. 
Thy golden plumes would float, 
And fragrant flowers of pearly hue 
Contrasted with thy coat. 
