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Dinah Maria Mulock - A Flower Of A Day
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OLD friend, that with a pale and pensile grace 
Climbest the lush hedgerows, art thou back again, 
Marking the slow round of the wond`rous years? 
Didst beckon me a moment, silent flower? 

Silent? As silent is the archangel`s pen 
That day by day writes our life chronicle, 
And turns the page,--the half-forgotten page, 
Which all eternity will never blot. 

Forgotten? No, we never do forget: 
We let the years go: eash then clean with tears, 
Leave them to bleach, out in the open day, 
Or lock them careful by, like dead friends` clothes, 
Till we shall dare unfold them without pain,-- 
But we forget not, never can forget. 
Flower, thou and I a moment face to face-- 
My face as clear as thine, this July noon 
Shining on both, on bee and butterfly 
And golden geetle creeping in the sun-- 
Will pause, and,lifting up, page after page, 
The many-colored history of life, 
Look backwards, backwards. 

So, the volume close! 
This July day, with the sun high in heaven, 
And the whole earth rejoicing,--let it close. 

I think we need not sigh, complain, nor rave; 
Nor blush,--our doings and misdoing all 
Being more `gainst heaven than man, heaven them does keep 
With all its doings and undoings strange 
Concerning us.--Ah, let the volume close: 
I would not alter in it one poor line. 

My dainty flower, my innocent white flower 
With such a pure smile looking up to heaven, 
With such a bright smile looking down on me-- 
(Nothing but smiles,--as if in all the world 
Were no such things as thunder-storms or frosts, 
Or broken petals trampled on the ground, 
Or shivering leaveswhirled in the wintry air 
Like ghosts of last years joys--my pretty flower, 
I`ll pluck thee--smiling too. Not one salt drop 
Shall stain thee:--if these foolish eyes are dim, 
That they behold such beauty and such peace, 
Such wisdom and such sweetness, in God`s world.
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