ANEMONES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume IX, Issue 9, 27 February 1892, Page 209

ANEMONES.

It was a happy holiday of ours When first we trod the sunny southern shore ! 'Twas that poor patch of closely tended Howers I saw, this moment, through the hot house door. That sent my fancy Hying o’er the seas, To that bright day we saw Anemones—

Saw them in glory, do you recollect ? Or are the trackless plains of heaven too fair To care how richly, royally, they decked The mountain-side, as we stood lingering there, Happy in wonder, beauty, love—we two ; How much of all has passed from life with you !

Above us shone the bright Italian'sun, Below, the ‘ city of the golden shell Around, the haunts we knew when life begun. Through the old pages that we loved so well And all about us sky, and hill, and sea, Lay in the glory that was—Sicily.

And spreading far adown the mountain-side. The Hashing masses of the Howers sprung ; And as we looked from where, in marble pride. She, ’mid her jewels, lay, who died so young Down Pellegrino swept the scented breeze. And • Look,’ you said, ‘ at the Anemones !’

How all the crimson living lustre swayed Like rosy billows on the ocean swell ;

Then tossed their fairy heads as if they made A voiceless music from each fragile bell ; Till, dazzled by their glow, we turned away. Have you forgotten, dear, that crowning day

Forgotten our sweet month of wandering’ Forgotten our long life of flawless love ’ Forgotten our slow parting’s bitter sting, In the blessed waiting of the life above ’ They are but English blooms I train to wave Beside the northern sea board, on your grave,