Sweet Peas.

By helpful fingers taught to twine
    Around its trellis, grew
A delicate and dainty vine;
The bursting bud, its blossom sign,
    Inlaid with honeyed-dew.

Developing by every art
    To floriculture known,
From tares exempt, and kept apart,
Careful, as if in some fond heart
    Its legume germs were sown.

So thriving, not for me alone
    Its beauty and perfume -
Ah, no, to rich perfection grown
By flower mission loved and known
    In many a darkened room.

And once in strange and solemn place,
    Mid weeping uncontrolled,
Upon the crushed and snowy lace
I saw them scattered 'round a face
    All pallid, still, and cold.

Oh, some may choose, as gaudy shows,
    Those saucy sprigs of pride
The peony, the red, red rose;
But give to me the flower that grows
    Petite and pansy-eyed.

Thus, meditation on Sweet Peas
    Impels the ardent thought,
Would maidens all were more like these,
With modesty - that true heartsease -
    Tying the lover's knot.