SOME space beyond the garden close <br /> I sauntered down the shadowed lawn; <br />It was the hour when sluggards doze, <br /> The cheerful, zephyr-breathing dawn. <br />The sun had not yet bathed his face, 5 <br /> Dark reddened from the night’s carouse, <br />When, lo! in festive gypsy grace <br /> The hollyhocks stood nodding brows. <br /> <br />They shone full bold and debonair— <br /> That fine, trim band of frolic blades; 10 <br />Their ruffles, pinked and purfled fair, <br /> Flamed with their riotous rainbow shades. <br />They whispered light each comrade’s ears, <br /> They flirted with the wooing breeze; <br />The grassy army’s stanchest spears 15 <br /> Rose merely to their stalwart knees! <br /> <br />My heart flushed warm with welcome cheer, <br /> They were so royal tall to see; <br />No high-placed rivals need they fear, <br /> All flowers paid them fealty. 20 <br />The haughtiest wild rose standing near <br /> Their girdles hardly might attain; <br />They glowed, the courtiers of a year, <br /> Blithe pages in the Summer’s train! <br /> <br />Their radiance mocked the ruddy morn, 25 <br /> So jocund and so saucy free; <br />Gay vagrants, Flora’s bravest born, <br /> They brightened all the emerald lea. <br />I said: “Glad hearts, the crabbed frost <br /> Will soon your sun-dyed glories blight; <br />No evil eye your pride has crossed, <br /> You know not the designs of night. <br /> <br />“You have not thought that beauty fades; <br /> It is in vain you bloom so free; <br />While you are flaunting in the glades <br /> The gale may wreck your wanton glee.” <br />They shook their silken frills in scorn, <br /> And to my warning seemed to say, <br />“Dull rhymester, look! ’t is summer morn, <br /> And round us is the court of Day!”<br /><br />Craven Langstroth Betts<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-hollyhocks/
