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Home  »  The Oxford Book of English Verse  »  253. To Blossoms

Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.

Robert Herrick. 1591–1674

253. To Blossoms

FAIR pledges of a fruitful tree, 
  Why do ye fall so fast? 
  Your date is not so past 
But you may stay yet here awhile 
  To blush and gently smile,         5
      And go at last. 
 
What! were ye born to be 
  An hour or half’s delight, 
  And so to bid good night? 
‘Twas pity Nature brought you forth  10
  Merely to show your worth 
      And lose you quite. 
 
But you are lovely leaves, where we 
  May read how soon things have 
  Their end, though ne’er so brave:  15
And after they have shown their pride 
  Like you awhile, they glide 
      Into the grave.