TO J W

Dear Jane you say you will gather flowers

To win if you may a verse from me

Can you bring to me those brillant hours

When life was gladdened by poesy?

Bring me the rose with pearls on her breast,

Dropped down as tears from early skies,

Pale lilies gather among the rest

And little daisies, with starry eyes

The heart's-ease bring for many a day

In vain for that flow'ret fair I sought

Turn not your gathering hand away

From the wee blue flower, forget me not

Unless inspiration on them rest

In vain you tempt me to rise and sing

The passage bird that sang in my breast

Has fled away with my life's young spring

My harp on a lonely grave is laid,

Untuned, unstrung, it will lie there long,

If you bring flowers alone dear maid

Without bringing the spirit of song

But accept the friendship that can spring

Out of this romantic heart of mine,

Devoted, true and unwithering,

And for ever thine, for ever thine