Observe yon sweet geranium flower.

font: Cheddar Salad

 

Texture by Remember Remember

 

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THE GERANIUM

 

by RICHARD BRINSLEY SHERIDAN

 

In the close covert of a grove

 

By nature formed for scenes of love,

 

Said Susan in a lucky hour:

 

‘Observe yon sweet geranium flower.

 

How straight upon its stalk it stands,

 

And tempts our violating hands,

 

Whilst the soft bud, as yet outspread,

 

Hangs down its pale declining head.

 

Yet soon as it is ripe to blow,

 

the stems shall rise, the head shall glow.’

 

‘Nature,’ said I, ‘my lovely Sue,

 

To all her followers lends a clue.

 

Her simple laws themselves explain

 

As links of one continued chain;

 

For her the mysteries of creation

 

Are but the works of generation.

 

Yon blushing, strong, triumphant flower

 

Is in the crisis of its power:

 

But short, alas, its vigorous reign;

 

He sheds his seed, and drops again.

 

The bud that hangs in pale decay

 

Feels not, as yet, the plastic ray.

 

Tomorrow’s sun shall bid him rise,

 

Then, too, he sheds his seed, and dies.

 

But words, my love, are vain and weak;

 

For proof, let bright example speak.’ …

 

 

Done