Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry. 1904.
V. Trees: Flowers: PlantsFlowers
Thomas Hood (17991845)I
Whose head is turned by the sun;
The tulip is a courtly quean,
Whom, therefore, I will shun:
The cowslip is a country wench,
The violet is a nun;—
But I will woo the dainty rose,
The queen of every one.
In too much haste to wed,
And clasps her rings on every hand;
The wolfsbane I should dread;
Nor will I dreary rosemarye,
That always mourns the dead;
But I will woo the dainty rose,
With her cheeks of tender red.
And so is no mate for me;
And the daisy’s cheek is tipped with a blush
She is of such low degree;
Jasmine is sweet, and has many loves,
And the broom ’s betrothed to the bee;—
But I will plight with the dainty rose,
For fairest of all is she.