Buttercups

"He likes the poor things of the world the best, I would not, therefore, if I could be rich. It pleases him to stoop for buttercups."

"Light gatherer. You fell from a star into my lap, the soft lamp at the bedside mirrored in you, and now you shine like a snowgirl, a buttercup under a chin, the wide blue yonder you squeal at and fly in."

"Dear robin," said this sad young flower, "Perhaps you'd not mind trying To find a nice white frill for me, Some day when you are flying?" "You silly thing!" the robin said; "I think you must be crazy! I'd rather be my honest self Than any made-up daisy. "You're nicer in your own bright gown, The little children love you; Be the best buttercup you can, And think no flower above you. "Though swallows leave me out of sight, We'd better keep our places; Perhaps the world would all go wrong With one too many daisies. "Look bravely up into the sky, And be content with knowing That God wished for a buttercup Just here, where you are growing."

"The royal kingcup bold Dares not don his coat of gold."

"All will be gay when noontide wakes anew The buttercups, the little children's dower."

"The buttercups, bright-eyed and bold, Held up their chalices of gold To catch the sunshine and the dew."

"Fair is the kingcup that in meadow blows, Fair is the daisy that beside her grows."

"Against her ankles as she trod The lucky buttercups did nod."

"And O the buttercups! that field O' the cloth of gold, where pennons swam , Where France set up his lilied shield, His oriflamb, And Henry's lion-standard rolled: What was it to their matchless sheen, Their million million drops of gold Among the green!"

"The buttercups across the field Made sunshine rifts of splendor."

"When buttercups are blossoming, The poets sang, 'tis best to wed: So all for love we paired in Spring , Blanche and I, ere youth had sped."