Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, BRIGHT FLOWERS, by JOHN FREEMAN


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

BRIGHT FLOWERS, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Love not so sorely the bright flowers
Last Line: Wenches for summer festival.
Subject(s): Flowers; Nature


LOVE not so sorely the bright flowers
Though in gardens they
Gleam so shallow-gay,
Steal the breath of winds, the touch of the sun,
Kiss the finger-tips of rain.

They are not as the trees
Riding a storm,
And they shake not, sing not
As willows shake and sing.
Nor bleed with slow pain
As yews with bloody rain.

—Yet in a garden, see
The drooping fuchsia bleed
Her virgin life away alway;
The wallflower fire
Another slowly burning Troy;
And ruddy-lipped nasturtiums hide
Venus asleep beside her wingless boy.

And look! an orange Dragon
Above the bearded wall.
Broad nose, pig's eyes and flaring smile—
The sunflower like a German kinglet
Guarding his kingdom small,
Half-drunk at noon and lusting for
Wenches for summer festival.





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