Pushing him sore, he pusheth sore, Soe that courageous Hart doth fight A WINTER NOSEGAY. O, WITHERED winter Blossoms, Unless to stand for Emblems, and peevish morals of humanity? There is my Quaker Aunt, A Paper-Flower- with a formal border Pouting at that old beau -the Winter Cherry, A puckered berry; And Box, like tough-lived annuitant,— From quarter-day even to quarter-day; And poor old Honesty, as thin as want, Under the baptism of the water-pot, The very apparition of a plant; Dost hold thy head so high, Old Winter-Daisy ; Because thy virtue never was infirm That never wanton fly, or blighted worm, To garden thief, Forcepped or winged was never a temptation; Then thou shalt be the token of denial. Away! dull weeds, Born without beneficial use or needs! Fit only to deck out cold winding-sheets; To tantalize-vile cheats! Some prodigal bee, with hope of after-sweets, As if ye never knew One drop of dew, Or the warm sun resplendent; Indifferent of culture and of care, Giving no sweets back to the fostering air, Churlishly independent I hate ye, of all breeds! Yea, all that live so selfishly-to self, "SHE IS FAR FROM THE LAND." CABLES entangling her, Tiller to batter her, Topmast to shatter her, Tobacco to spatter her; All the sea-dangers, Buccaneers, rangers, Pirates, and Sallee-men, Algerine galleymen, Tornadoes and typhons, And horrible syphons, And submarine travels Thro' roaring sea-navels; Everything wrong enough, Long-boat not long enough, Vessel not strong enough; Pitch marring frippery, The deck very slippery, And the cabin - built sloping, The Captain a-toping, And the Mate a blasphemer That names his Redeemer With inward uneasiness; The cook, known by greasiness, And ne'er a cork jacket On board of the packet; And doomsday and sentence! Not a church minister, Pilot a blunderer, Coral reefs under her, Crabs with their hand-vices Sea-dogs and unicorns, Things with no puny horns, "Good Lord deliver us!" |