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