| Harriet Monroe, ed. (18601936). Poetry: A Magazine of Verse. 191222. | | | | Shy Perfect Flower | | By Grace Fallow Norton |
| | | SHY perfect pearl-white flower, blooming alone | |
| In northern woods where snow has sown | |
| Its myriad seedshy perfect flower, | |
| Fragrant, alone | |
| Your dark leaves cluster close to hide you the more. | 5 |
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| I part them and remember bright poppies on the plain. | |
| They run in the wind, a ragged gypsy train; | |
| They fling themselves at the feet of the golden grain | |
| When it is slain they too are slain. | |
| Their life is a cry! Their life is a sudden scarlet stain! | 10 |
| Their dream-dark seeds have fearful power. | |
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| And you, shy perfect pearl-white flower? | | | | |
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