Page:Poems Rice.djvu/91

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TO DR. PERRY,WITH A CLUSTER OF VIOLETS, IN HIS LAST ILLNESS.
VIOLETS, these sweet violets! will they not soothe thy pain,
And bring the welcome hues of health back to thy cheek again?
I sought them with this pure desire, so lowly, gemmed with dew,
And hasten, ere their beauty dies, thy lonely couch to strew.
Though unpretending they may seem, 'tis all that I can bring;
However small the gift, ofttimes it may a magic fling
Around our hearts, about our paths, wherever we may go,
And these so simply beautiful, must bear a charm, I know.

When arrested in life's walks by sudden grief or pain,
How kindly hast thou ministered till health returned again;
And now a balm of joy I'd bring to offer in return
For all thy counsels given me, that I relief might learn.