A Contemplation upon Flowers / Henry King

A Contemplation upon Flowers

Brave flowers -- that I could gallant it like you,
    And be as little vain!
You come abroad, and make a harmless show,
    And to your beds of earth again.
You are not proud: you know your birth:
For your embroider'd garments are from earth.

You do obey your months and times, but I
    Would have it ever Spring:
My fate would know no Winter, never die,
    Nor think of such a thing.
O that I could my bed of earth but view
And smile, and look as cheerfully as you!

O teach me to see Death and not to fear,
    But rather to take truce!
How often have I seen you at a bier,
    And there look fresh and spruce!
You fragrant flowers! then teach me, that my breath
Like yours may sweeten and perfume my death.

~~
Henry King (1592-1669)
from Poems, Elegies, Paradoxes and Sonnets, 1657.

[Poem is in the public domain worldwide]

Henry King biography

"A Contemplation upon Flowers" read by Dexnell Peters. Courtesy LibriVox.