2025-05-18

the flowers

author: william brighty rands

when love arose in heart and deed
to wake the world to greater joy
'what can she give me now' said greed
who thought to win some costly toy

he rose, he ran, he stoop'd, he clutch'd
and soon the flowers that love let fall
in greed's hot grasp were fray'd and smutch'd
and greed said 'flowers can this be all'

he flung them down and went his way
he cared no jot for thyme or rose
but boys and girls came out to play
and some took these and some took those

red, blue, and white, and green and gold
and at their touch the dew return'd
and all the bloom a thousandfold
so red, so ripe, the roses burn'd