Poem by Anna Seward

Sonnet 71. While Summer Roses all their glory yield

         TO THE POPPY.

While Summer Roses all their glory yield
    To crown the Votary of Love and Joy,
    Misfortune's Victim hails, with many a sigh,
    Thee, scarlet Poppy of the pathless field,
Gaudy, yet wild and lone; no leaf to shield
    Thy flaccid vest, that, as the gale blows high,
    Flaps, and alternate folds around thy head.—
    So stands in the long grass a love-craz'd Maid,
Smiling aghast; while stream to every wind
    Her gairish ribbons, smear'd with dust and rain;
    But brain-sick visions cheat her tortur'd mind,
And bring false peace. Thus, lulling grief and pain,
    Kind dreams oblivious from thy juice proceed,
    Thou flimsy, shewy, melancholy weed.

1. Sonnet 87. Round Cleon's brow the Delphic laurels twine
2. Sonnet 13. Thou child of Night, and Silence, balmy Sleep
3. Sonnet 53. The knell of Whitehead tolls!—his cares are past
4. Sonnet 15. The evening shines in May's luxuriant pride
5. Sonnet 45. From Possibility's dim chaos sprung

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