LOVE not so sorely the bright flowers Though in gardens they Gleam so shallow-gay, Steal the breath of winds, the touch of the sun, Kiss the finger-tips of rain. They are not as the trees Riding a storm, And they shake not, sing not As willows shake and sing. Nor bleed with slow pain As yews with bloody rain. —Yet in a garden, see The drooping fuchsia bleed Her virgin life away alway; The wallflower fire Another slowly burning Troy; And ruddy-lipped nasturtiums hide Venus asleep beside her wingless boy. And look! an orange Dragon Above the bearded wall. Broad nose, pig's eyes and flaring smile— The sunflower like a German kinglet Guarding his kingdom small, Half-drunk at noon and lusting for Wenches for summer festival. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...LENTEN GREETING; TO A LADY by GEORGE SANTAYANA THE FLOATING MORMON by KAREN SWENSON THE GIANT PUFFBALL by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN WITH FLOWERS by EMILY DICKINSON TO A REPUBLICAN FRIEND, 1848, CONTINUED by MATTHEW ARNOLD PENTRIDGE BY THE RIVER by WILLIAM BARNES THE SERVANT by JOSEPH BEAUMONT |