Buttercups and Daisies

Mary Howitt

 

Buttercups and daisies—

Oh the pretty flowers,

Coming ere the springtime

To tell of sunny hours.

While the trees are leafless

While the fields are bare,

Buttercups and daisies

Spring up here and there.

 

Ere the snowdrop peepeth,

Ere the crocus bold,

Ere the early primrose

Opes its paly gold,

Somewhere on a sunny bank

Buttercups are bright;

Somewhere ‘mong the frozen grass

Peeps the daisy white.

 

Little hard-flowers

Like to children poor,

Playing in their sturdy health

By their mother’s door:

Purple with the north wind,

Yet alert and bold;

Fearing not and caring not,

Though they be a-cold.

 

What to them is weather!

What are stormy showers!

Buttercups and daisies

Are these human flowers!

He who gave them hardship

And a life of care,

Gave them likewise hardy strength,

And patient hearts, to bear.

 

Welcome yellow buttercups,

Welcome daisies white,

Ye are in my spirit

Visioned, a delight!

Coming ere the springtime

Of sunny hours to tell—

Speaking to our hearts of Him

Who doeth all things well.