Floral Poetry. 67 
ALMOND-BLOSSOM. 
B LOSSOM of the Almond-trees, 
April’s gift to April bees, 
Birthday ornament of Spring, 
Flora’s fairest daughterling; 
Coming when no flow’rets dare, 
Trust the cruel outer air ; 
When the royal King-cup bold 
Dares not don his coat of gold, 
And the sturdy Blackthorn spray 
Keeps his silver for the May; 
Coming when no flow’rets would, 
Save thy lowly sisterhood; 
Early Violets, blue and white, 
Dying for their love of light. 
Almond-blossoms, sent to teach us 
That the Spring-days soon will reach us, 
Lest, with longing over-tried, 
We die as the Violets died. 
Blossom, crowding all the tree 
With thy crimson ’broidery, 
Long before a leaf of green 
On the bravest bough is seen; 
Ah ! when winter winds are swinging 
All thy red-bells into ringing, 
With a bee in every bell, 
Almond-blossom, we greet thee well. 
Edwin Arnold. 
