Page:The Romance of Nature; or, The Flower-Seasons Illustrated.djvu/338

212 Oh! many a glorious flower there grows

In far and richer lands:

But high in my affection e'er

The Autumn Crocus stands.

I love their faces, when, by one

And two, they're looking out:—

I love them, when the spreading field

Is purple all about.

I loved them in the by-gone years

Of childhood's thoughtless laughter,

When I marvelled why the flowers came first

And the leaves the season after.

I loved them then, I love them now,

The gentle and the bright;

I love them for the thoughts they bring

Of Spring's returning light;

When, first-born of the waking earth,

Their kindred gay appear.

And, with the Snowdrop, usher in

The hope invested year.

But they are passing from us now,

And round each frail, white stem

The purple petals faded droop;

Winter will chase e'en them.