The Question. Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822). V. Trees: Flowers: Plants. Bliss Carman, et al., eds. 1904. The World's Best Poetry. V. Nature

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Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume V. Nature. 1904.

V. Trees: Flowers: Plants

The Question

Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792–1822)


I. I DREAMED that, as I wandered by the way,
Bare winter suddenly was changed to spring,
And gentle odors led my steps astray,
Mixt with a sound of waters murmuring
Along a shelving bank of turf, which lay	5
Under a copse, and hardly dared to fling
Its green arms round the bosom of the stream,
But kist it and then fled, as thou mightest in dream.

II. There grew pied wind-flowers and violets,
Daisies, those pearled Arcturi of the earth,	10
The constellated flower that never sets;
Faint oxslips; tender bluebells, at whose birth
The sod scarce heaved; and that tall flower that wets—
Like a child, half in tenderness and mirth—
Its mother’s face with heaven’s collected tears,	15
When the low wind, its playmate’s voice, it hears.

III. And in the warm hedge grew lush eglantine,
Green cowbind and the moonlight colored May,
And cherry-blossoms, and white cups, whose wine
Was the bright dew, yet drained not by the day;	20
And wild roses, and ivy serpentine,
With its dark buds and leaves, wandering astray;
And flowers azure, black, and streakt with gold,
Fairer than any wakened eyes behold.

IV. And nearer to the river’s trembling edge	25
There grew broad flag-flowers, purple prankt with white,
And starry river buds among the sedge,
And floating water-lilies, broad and bright,
Which lit the oak that overhung the hedge
With moonlight beams of their own watery light;	30
And bulrushes, and reeds of such deep green
As soothed the dazzled eye with sober sheen.

V. Methought that of these visionary flowers
I made a nosegay bound in such a way
That the same hues, which in their natural bowers	35
Were mingled or opposed, the like array
Kept these imprisoned children of the Hours
Within my hand,—and then, elate and gay,
I hastened to the spot whence I had come,
That I might there present it!—oh! to whom?	40

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