Seventeen rosebuds in a ring, <br />Thick with sister flowers beset, <br />In a fragrant coronet, <br />Lucy's servants this day bring. <br />Be it the birthday wreath she wears <br />Fresh and fair, and symbolling <br />The young number of her years, <br />The sweet blushes of her spring. <br /> <br />Types of youth and love and hope! <br />Friendly hearts your mistress greet, <br />Be you ever fair and sweet, <br />And grow lovelier as you ope! <br />Gentle nursling, fenced about <br />With fond care, and guarded so, <br />Scarce you've heard of storms without, <br />Frosts that bite or winds that blow! <br /> <br />Kindly has your life begun, <br />And we pray that heaven may send <br />To our floweret a warm sun, <br />A calm summer, a sweet end. <br />And where'er shall be her home, <br />May she decorate the place; <br />Still expanding into bloom, <br />And developing in grace.<br /><br />William Makepeace Thackeray<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/lucy-s-birthday/
