2 iS 
Floral Poetry . 
“ This is an earnest, Eve, to thee,” 
The glorious angel said, 
“ That sun and Summer soon shall be : 
And though the leaves seem dead, 
Yet once again the smiling Spring, 
With wooing winds shall swiftly bring 
New life to every sleeping thing, 
Until they wake and make the scene 
Look fresh again and gaily green.” 
The angel’s mission being ended, 
Up to heaven he flew, 
But where he first descended, 
And where he bade the earth adieu, 
A ring of Snowdrops formed a posy 
Of pallid flowers, whose leaves, unrosy, 
Waved like a wingbd argosy, — 
Whose climbing masts, above the sea, 
Spread fluttering sail and streamer free. 
And thus the Snowdrop like a bow 
That spans the cloudy sky; 
Becomes a symbol whence we know 
That brighter days are nigh : 
That circling seasons, in a race 
That know no lagging lingering pace 
Shall each the other nimbly chase, 
Till Time’s departing final day 
Sweep Snowdrops and the world away. 
G. W. 
