To The Daisy


Oh, flower meek and modest

That blooms of all the soonest,

Some great delight possesses me

When thy soft crystal bud I see.



Thou art the first of the year

To break the bonds of winter,

And for thy gallant enterprise

I'll welcome thee and sing thy praise.



And hast thou no misgiving?

Or fear of tempests howling

To issue from the hardy sod
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Before thy sisters break their pod?



Behind thee millions lie

And hide their faces shy,

Lest winter's cold continue,

Or tempests charged with mildew.



Inform thy sisters coy

The spring's without alloy,

Tell them there is no snow

Or icy wind to blow.



Tell them the cattle meek

Will joy their heads to seek,

The lamb delighted be

To see them on the lea.



Speed therefore all ye flowers

That gleam upon the pastures,

Ye white and yellow come

And make the field your smiling home.



A thousand times more comely

Your cheerful features lively,

Than all the gems that shine

In royal crown of princely line.



How pleasant then to roam

Through field and forest home,

And listen to the song

Of birds that carol long.



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