THE HOLY SNOWDROPS.

Of old, with goodwill from the skies,

The holy angels came;

They walked the earth with human eyes,

And passed away in flame.

But now the angels are withdrawn,

Because the flowers can speak;

With Christ, we see the dayspring dawn

In every snowdrop meek.

God sends them forth; to God they tend;

Not less with love they burn,

That to the earth they lowly bend,

And unto dust return.

No miracle in them hath place,

For this world is their home;

An utterance of essential grace

The angel-snowdrops come.