WHILE summer roses all their glory yield To crown the votary of love and joy, Misfortune's victim hails, with many a sigh, Thee, scarlet Poppy of the pathless field, Gaudy, yet wild and lone; no leaf to shield Thy flaccid vest that, as the gale blows high, Flaps, and alternate folds around thy head. So stands in the long grass a love-crazed maid, Smiling aghast; while stream to every wind Her garish ribbons, smeared with dust and rain; But brain-sick visions cheat her tortured mind, And bring false peace. Thus, lulling grief and pain, Kind dreams oblivious from thy juice proceed, Thou flimsy, showy, melancholy weed. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...NAMES by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE THE FAIRY THORN; AN ULSTER BALLAD by SAMUEL FERGUSON ODE IN MEMORY OF THE AMERICAN VOLUNTEERS FALLEN FOR FRANCE by ALAN SEEGER ASTROPHEL AND STELLA: FOURTH SONG by PHILIP SIDNEY MY ALPENSTOCK by HENRY GLASSFORD BELL |