Time & Brevity
A Contemplation upon flowers
From Metaphysical Lyrics and Poems of the Seventeenth Century, ed. H. J. C. Grierson (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1921)
Brave flowers, that I could gallant it like you
And be as little vaine,
You come abroad, and make a harmelesse shew,
And to your bedds of Earthe againe;
You are not proud, you know your birth
For your Embroiderd garments are from Earth:
You doe obey your moneths, and times, but I
Would have it ever springe,
My fate would know noe winter, never dye
Nor thinke of such a thing;
Oh that I could my bedd of Earth but view
And Smile, and looke as Chearefully as you:
Oh teach me to see Death, and not to feare
But rather to take truce;
How often have I scene you at a Beere,
And there look fresh and spruce;
You fragrant flowers then teach me that my breath
Like yours may sweeten, and perfume my Death.
Cite this poem
MLA
King, Henry. “A Contemplation upon flowers.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/king/75/.
Chicago
King, Henry. “A Contemplation upon flowers.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/king/75/.
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