Daffodil

written by


« Reload image

  Gold tassel upon March's bugle-horn,
  Whose blithe reveille blows from hill to hill
  And every valley rings--O Daffodil!
  What promise for the season newly born?
  Shall wave on wave of flow'rs, full tide of corn,
  O'erflow the world, then fruited Autumn fill
  Hedgerow and garth? Shall tempest, blight, or chill
  Turn all felicity to scathe and scorn?

  Tantarrara! the joyous Book of Spring
  Lies open, writ in blossoms; not a bird
  Of evil augury is seen or heard:
  Come now, like Pan's old crew, we'll dance and sing,
  Or Oberon's: for hill and valley ring
  To March's bugle-horn,--Earth's blood is stirred.

© William Allingham