Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900.

By Mary Elizabeth (Hewitt)Stebbins

312 The Sunflower to the Sun

HYMETTUS’ bees are out on filmy wing,

Dim Phosphor slowly fades adown the west,

And Earth awakes. Shine on me, O my king!

For I with dew am laden and oppressed.

Long through the misty hours of morning gray

The flowers have watched to hail thee from yon sea!

Sad Asphodel, that pines to meet thy ray,

And Juno’s roses, pale for love of thee.

Perchance thou dalliest with the Morning Hour,

Whose blush is reddening now the eastern wave;

Or to the cloud forever leavest thy flower,

Wiled by the glance white-footed Thetis gave.

I was a proud Chaldean monarch’s child!

Euphrates’ waters told me I was fair,—

And thou, Thessalia’s shepherd, on me smiled,

And likened to thine own my amber hair.

Thou art my life,—sustainer of my spirit!

Leave me not then in darkness here to pine;

Other hearts love thee, yet do they inherit

A Passionate devotedness like mine?

But lo! thou lift’st thy shield o’er yonder tide:

The dun clouds fly before the conquering Sun;

Thou like a monarch up the heavens dost ride,—

And, joy! thou beam’st on me, celestial one!

On me, thy worshipper, thy poor Parsee,

Whose brow adoring types thy face divine;

God of my burning heart’s idolatry,

Take root like me, or give me life like thine!