•20 
TO A NARCISSUS IN JANUARY. 
How beautiful aiJ thou, my Winter Flower! 
Lifting with graceful pride thy stately head. 
Heavy with its rich crown of pearl and gold: — 
Thou sheddest on the air such soft perfume. 
That I coidd deem ’twas incense, gently flung 
Before thy beauty’s shrine by some fair sprite 
Enamoured of thy maiden loveliness. 
The hyacinth and violet entwined 
Have scarce so sweet an odour. 
Thanks, my Flowei’, 
My gentle, kind companion — for to me 
Thy silence is most elocpient; — I love 
Thy quiet steadfast gaze, as, o’er my desk. 
The long day through thou hast seemed watching me 
And ever and anon, in glancing up, 
I still have met thy calm unchanging look. 
Reminding me, in silence, of the friend 
Whose gift thou wert to me. Yet thou wert then 
A mere unsightly root. Oh! how I watched. 
With almost childish eagerness, thy growth. 
And tended thee with more than common care. 
