WHAT time I lay these rhymes anear thy feet, Benignant friend, I will not proudly say As better poets use, 'These flowers I lay,' Because I would not wrong thy roses sweet, Blaspheming so their name. And yet, repeat Thou, overleaning them this springtime day, With heart as open to love as theirs to May, -- 'Low - rooted verse may reach some heavenly heat, Even like my blossoms, if as nature-true Though not as precious.' Thou art unper-plext -- Dear friend, in whose dear writings drops the dew And blow the natural airs, -- thou, who art next To nature's self in cheering the world's view, -- To preach a sermon on so known a text! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ON THE TOMBS IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY by FRANCIS BEAUMONT A LITTLE BOY LOST, FR. SONGS OF EXPERIENCE by WILLIAM BLAKE THE CHIMNEY SWEEPER, FR. SONGS OF INNOCENCE by WILLIAM BLAKE WITCHCRAFT BY A PICTURE by JOHN DONNE A BALLAD OF THE BOSTON TEA-PARTY [DECEMBER 16, 1773] by OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES SONGS ON THE VOICES OF BIRDS; SEA-MEWS IN WINTER TIME by JEAN INGELOW |