76 
THE POETRY OF FLOWERS. 
rHE DYING GIRL AND FLOWERS 
Bear them not from grassy dells, 
Where wild bees have honey-cells, 
Not from where sweet water-sounds 
Thrill the greenwood to its bounds ; 
Not to waste their scented breath 
On the silent room of Death ! 
Kindred to the breeze they are, 
And the glow-worm’s emerald star, 
And the bird, whose song is free, 
And the many-whispering tree: 
Oh! too deep a love, and fain, 
They would win to earth again. 
Spread them not before the eyes, 
Closing fast on summer skies ! 
Woo thou not the spirit back, 
From its lone and viewless track, 
With the bright things which have birth 
Wide o’er all the colour’d earth ! 
With the violet’s breath would rise 
Thoughts too sad for her who dies; 
From the lily’s pearl-cup shed, 
Dreams too sweet would haunt her bed; 
Dreams of youth—of spring-time eves— 
Music—beauty—all she leaves ! 
