SS 
itt 5 pe oe 


304 POETRY OF FLOWERS. 
INVOCATION TO SPRING. 
Comz, O thou beautiful, blossoming Spring, 
And to me thy loveliest flowerets bring !— 
Come; let their bright leaves encircle thy brow, 
And wave ’midst thy glittering tresses now ; 
Oh ! linger no more ’neath the fleecy veil, 
The fabric of Winter’s congealing gale, 
But gently breathe on the chill snowy shroud, 
And ’twill vanish in tears, like the Summer cloud, 
As grieved to see thee its whiteness excel 
In the virgin hue of the snowdrop’s bell. 
Then gaze upon earth with thy azure eyes, 
And bid their emblem, the violet, rise 
On the greenwood bank, where the primrose pale 
Looks up, to greet gladly the nightingale! 
And the regal crocus, in purple and gold, 
Bursts forth into life from its leafy fold. 
Come! for we are weary of wind and storm 5 
Come, gladden our hearts with thy fairy form : — 
Bring with thee the daisy’s “‘ wee crimson tip,” 
Like the roseate hue of a maiden’s lip ; 
And childhood’s own darling, the buttercup, 
With bright rays gild, as its flowers glance up; 
Let the hyacinth wave in the scented breeze, 
And the May-buds peep on the hawthorn tree:, 
~“ 
eee eke 
