Emily Dickinson (1830–86). Complete Poems. 1924. |
Part Two: Nature
LXVI
|
| THERE is a flower that bees prefer, | |
| And butterflies desire; | |
| To gain the purple democrat | |
| The humming-birds aspire. | |
| |
| And whatsoever insect pass, | 5 |
| A honey bears away | |
| Proportioned to his several dearth | |
| And her capacity. | |
| |
| Her face is rounder than the moon, | |
| And ruddier than the gown | 10 |
| Of orchis in the pasture, | |
| Or rhododendron worn. | |
| |
| She doth not wait for June; | |
| Before the world is green | |
| Her sturdy little countenance | 15 |
| Against the wind is seen, | |
| |
| Contending with the grass, | |
| Near kinsman to herself, | |
| For privilege of sod and sun, | |
| Sweet litigants for life. | 20 |
| |
| And when the hills are full, | |
| And newer fashions blow, | |
| Doth not retract a single spice | |
| For pang of jealousy. | |
| |
| Her public is the noon, | 25 |
| Her providence the sun, | |
| Her progress by the bee proclaimed | |
| In sovereign, swerveless tune. | |
| |
| The bravest of the host, | |
| Surrendering the last, | 30 |
| Nor even of defeat aware | |
| When cancelled by the frost. | |
|
|
