A thousand tulip bulbs she bought last Autumn, And took them to her own small garden place. She worked for days, just digging, planting; I loafed and read and watched her eager face; "What grubby work!" I said. "You really like it?" She waved her grimy fingers, smiled at me: "It's grubby now, but wait till spring!" she answered; "Can't you just see the loveliness they'll be? "All these tulips blowing gay along the hedges— "Flame and glory running down the garden walks— "Lily cups all brimming full of sunset— "Rose, lilac, gold, on slim and swaying stalks!" Last fall. But winter came and claimed all gardens It claimed her, too. In our bitter pain We kept away from her special garden; It seemed as if Spring could not come again. It's April now; and all along the hedges In throbbing beauty, hosts of tulips pour Their gold and rose and tender shining lilac— The beauty that she grubbed and planted for. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MY SENSES DO NOT DECEIVE ME by MARIANNE MOORE THE WHITE SHIP by DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI EFFICIENCY by FRANKLIN PIERCE ADAMS THE VIOLET by ALEXANDER ANDERSON A SUMMER NIGHT by MATTHEW ARNOLD |