HOW many a budding plant is born to fade!
How many a May bloom wilt with quick decay!
Ofttimes the ruddiest rose holds briefest sway,
While heart and sense are evermore betrayed
Alike in nature’s shine and nature’s shade.
Vainly earth-tendered seeds have sought the day,
And countless threads of rivulets wind astray,
For one that joins the vast main unembayed.
O prodigal nature, why this spendthrift waste
Of light, strength, beauty given to earth or man?
Thy richest realm may lie in trackless seas,
Thy tenderest loves, perchance, die unembraced;
While faith and reason watch thy ‘wildering plan,
The baffled soul’s cloud-compassed Hyades!
(Paul Hamilton Hayne)
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Based on Topics: Man Poems, Light Poems, Nature Poems, Sense & Perception Poems, Beauty Poems, Planning PoemsBased on Keywords: wildering, briefest, hyades, ruddiest, unembraced