THE SENSITIVE PLANT PART FIRST The garden A SENSITIVE PLANT in a garden grew, And the Spring arose on the garden fair, Rose from the dreams of its wintry rest. But none ever trembled and panted with bliss ΙΟ Arose from the ground with warm rain wet, sent From the turf, like the voice and the instru ment. Then the pied wind-flowers and the tulip tall, 20 And the Naiad-like lily of the vale, Whom youth makes so fair and passion so pale, And the hyacinth purple, and white, and blue, It was felt like an odour within the sense; And the rose like a nymph to the bath Which unveiled the depth of her glowing breast, And the wand-like lily, which lifted up, 31 And the jessamine faint, and the sweet tuberose, 40 And on the stream whose inconstant bosom Broad water lilies lay tremulously, And around them the soft stream did glide and With a motion of sweet sound and radiance. The flowers Paradise 49 An And the sinuous paths of lawn and of moss, undefiled Which led through the garden along and across, Some open at once to the sun and the breeze, Some lost among bowers of blossoming trees, Were all paved with daisies and delicate bells And flowrets which drooping as day drooped too And from this undefiled Paradise 60 When Heaven's blithe winds had unfolded them, For each one was interpenetrated With the light and the odour its neighbour shed, Like young lovers whom youth and love make dear Wrapped and filled by their mutual atmosphere. But the Sensitive Plant, which could give small fruit 70 Of the love which it felt from the leaf to the root, Received more than all,-it loved more than ever (Where none wanted but it) could belong to the giver : For the Sensitive Plant has no bright flower; The light winds which from unsustaining wings The plumèd insects swift and free, The unseen clouds of the dew, which lie The quivering vapours of dim noontide, Each and all like ministering angels were 80 90 And when evening descended from heaven above, And the Earth was all rest, and the air was all love, Ministering Angels Freedom's exceeding loveliness LIX "Thou art Peace-never by thee LX "What if English toil and blood To dim, but not extinguish thee. LXI "Thou art Love-the rich have kissed And through the rough world follow thee, LXII "Or turn their wealth to arms, and make On wealth, and war, and fraud-whence they LXIII "Science, Poetry and Thought Are thy lamps; they make the lot So serene, they curse it not. LXIV "Spirit, Patience, Gentleness, All that can adorn and bless Art thou... let deeds, not words, express |