ToAMountainDaisy,

toamountaindaisy,

onturningdownwiththeplough,inapril,1786.

wee,modestcrimson-tippedflow'r,

thou'smetmeinanevilhour;

forimauncrushamangthestoure

thyslenderstem:

tosparetheenowispastmypow'r,

thouboniegem.

alas!it'snothyneiborsweet,

thebonielark,companionmeet,

bendingthee'mangthedewyweet,

wi'spreckl'dbreast!

whenupward-springing,blythe,togreet

thepurplingeast.

cauldblewthebitter-bitingnorth

uponthyearly,humblebirth;

yetcheerfullythouglintedforth

amidthestorm,

scarcerear'dabovetheparent-earth

thytenderform.

theflauntingflow'rsourgardensyield,

highshelt'ringwoodsandwa'smaunshield;

butthou,beneaththerandombield

o'clodorstane,

adornsthehistiestibblefield,

unseen,alane.

there,inthyscantymantleclad,

thysnawiebosomsun-wardspread,

thouliftsthyunassuminghead

inhumbleguise;

butnowtheshareuptearsthybed,

andlowthoulies!

suchisthefateofartlessmaid,

sweetflow'retoftheruralshade!

bylove'ssimplicitybetray'd,

andguilelesstrust;

tillshe,likethee,allsoil'd,islaid

lowi'thedust.

suchisthefateofsimplebard,

onlife'sroughoceanlucklessstarr'd!

unskilfulhetonotethecard

ofprudentlore,

tillbillowsrage,andgalesblowhard,

andwhelmhimo'er!

suchfatetosufferingworthisgiv'n,

wholongwithwantsandwoeshasstriv'n,

byhumanprideorcunningdriv'n

tomis'ry'sbrink;

tillwrench'dofev'rystaybutheav'n,

he,ruin'd,sink!