Christina G. Rossetti (1830-1894). Time Flies. VI. "Young girls wear flowers." Alfred H. Miles, ed. 1907. The Sacred Poets of the Nineteenth Century

Alfred H. Miles, ed. The Sacred Poets of the Nineteenth Century. 1907.

Time Flies.
VI. “Young girls wear flowers”

By Christina G. Rossetti (1830–1894)


May 14 YOUNG girls wear flowers,
Young brides a flowery wreath,
But next we plant them
In garden plots of death.
Whose lot is best:	5
The maiden’s curtained rest,
Or bride’s whose hoped-for sweet
May yet outstrip her feet?
Ah! what are such as these
To death’s sufficing ease?	10
He sleeps indeed who sleeps in peace
Where night and morning meet.

Dear are the blossoms
For bride’s or maiden’s head,
But dearer planted	15
Around our blessed dead.
Those mind us of decay
And joys that fade away,
These preach to us perfection,
Long love, and resurrection.	20
We make our graveyards fair
For spirit-like birds of air,
For Angels may be finding there
Lost Eden’s own detection.