by the author of "Azeth the Egyptian" [Eliza Lynn Linton].
Originally published in Howitt's Journal (William & Mary Howitt) vol.1 #23 (05 Jun 1847).
The flowers! the lovely flowers!
They are springing forth again;
Are opening their gentle eyes
In forest and in plain!
They cluster round the ancient stems,
And ivied roots of trees,
Like children playing gracefully
About a father's knees.
The flowers! the lovely flowers!
Their pure and radiant eyes
Greet us where'er we turn our steps,
Like angels from the skies!
They say that nought exists on earth,
However poor and small,
Unseen by God; the meanest things,
He careth for them all!
The flowers! the lovely flowers!
The fairest type are they
Of the soul springing from its night
To sunshine and to day;
For though they lie all dead and cold,
With winter's snow above,
The glorious spring doth call them forth
To happiness and love!
Ye flowers! ye lovely flowers!
We greet ye well and long!
With light, and warmth, and sunny smile,
And harmony, and song!
All dull and sad would be our earth,
Were your bright beauties not;
And thus, without Life's Flowers of Love,
Oh, what would be our lot!