Nature
How the Wall-flower came first, and why so called.
From Hesperides (1648)
WHy this Flower is now call'd so,
List' sweet maids, and you shal know.
Understand, this First-ling was
Once a brisk and bonny Lasse,
Kept as close as Danae was:
Who a sprightly Spring all lov'd,
And to have it fully prov'd,
Up she got upon a wall,
Tempting down to slide withall:
But the silken twist unty'd,
So she fell, and bruis'd, she dy'd.
Love, in pitty of the deed,
And her loving-lucklesse speed,
Turn'd her to this Plant, we call
Now, The Flower of the Wall.
Cite this poem
MLA
Herrick, Robert. “How the Wall-flower came first, and why so called.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/herrick/34/.
Chicago
Herrick, Robert. “How the Wall-flower came first, and why so called.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/herrick/34/.
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