Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, AN OLD-FASHIONED GARDEN, by DORA CLAIRE VANNIX


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

AN OLD-FASHIONED GARDEN, by                    
First Line: A nosegay of old-fashioned flowers came today
Last Line: That in old-fashioned gardens, as elsewhere, my dwell.
Subject(s): Flowers; Gardens & Gardening; Memory


A nosegay of old-fashioned flowers came today
That grew in a garden just over the way,
From a friend who's as quaintly old-fashioned as they.

The memories a bunch of gay posies can bring,
The voices that out of the past seem to ring,
The yesteryear faces that suddenly spring,

And people the shadows that silently creep
As the twilight veil falls over valley and steep,
When silvered by moonlight the earth lies asleep.

Then fancy goes roaming in far-away land
To a garden where holly-hocks tall used to stand
Near the ivy-arched gate—stately sentinels grand.

Sweet mignonette, peonies, marigolds, pinks,
The red poppy cup where a butterfly drinks,
Forms each in its season fond memory links.

'Twas here, when the crimson and gold tulip-bed
Was flaunting its colors, I happily read
My first composition on printed page spread.

'Neath the chesnut, while near grew the bridal-wreath white,
The old story was told in the mellow moonlight.
(Did ever the myriad stars shine so bright?)

And roses—a riot of every shade
From this garden, the altar and chancel arrayed
And furnished an armful for one tearful maid

On that sunny June day, she as a young bride,
Her happiness did to another confide,
And wandered afar from the home's bright fireside.

Ay, a bouquet of old-fashioned flowers can tell
Of the joys that are past, and the sorrows as well,
That in old-fashioned gardens, as elsewhere, my dwell.





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