The Poetry of Flowers. 
85 
Thy blossom meets the traveller’s eye, 
Gay as the buds of summer bowers. 
Flower of the dark and wintry day ! 
Emblem of friendship ! thee I hail 1 
Blooming when others fade away, 
And brightest when their hues grow pale. 
TO DAFFODILS. 
BY ROBERT HERRICK. 
Fair Daffodils, we weep to see 
You haste away so soon ; 
As yet, the early-rising sun 
Has not attained its noon. 
Stay, stay, 
Until the hastening day 
Has run 
But to the even song ; 
And having prayed together, we 
Will go with you along. 
We have short time to stay as you, 
We have as short a spring ; 
As quick a growth to meet decay, 
As you or any thing. 
We die, 
As your hours do, and dry 
Away, 
Like to the summer’s rain, 
Or as the pearls of morning’s dew, 
Ne’er to be found again. 
