I made a little song about the rose <br />And sang it for the rose to hear, <br />Nor ever marked until the music's close <br />A lily that was listening near. <br /> <br />The red red rose flushed redder with delight, <br />And like a queen her head she raised. <br />The white white lily blanched a paler white, <br />For anger that she was not praised. <br /> <br />Turning I left the rose unto her pride, <br />The lily to her enviousness, <br />And soon upon the grassy ground espied <br />A daisy all companionless. <br /> <br />Doubtless no flattered flower is this, I deemed; <br />And not so graciously it grew <br />As rose or lily: but methought it seemed <br />More thankful for the sun and dew. <br /> <br /> <br />Dear love, my sweet small flower that grew'st among <br />The grass, from all the flowers apart,- <br />Forgive me that I gave the rose my song, <br />Ere thou, the daisy, hadst my heart!<br /><br />William Watson<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/three-flowers/
