Bermuda.

O charming blossom of the sea         Atlantic waters bosomed in!     Abiding-place of gayety,         Elysian bower of "Cora Linn,"     The sprightly, lively dbiteuse     Recounting all she sees and does.     Oh, how it makes the northern heart,         With sluggish current half-congealed,     In ecstasy and vigor start         To read about this tropic field;     The garden of luxuriousness,     In winter wearing summer's dress.     With gelid sap and frozen gum         In maple trees and hackmatack,     While waiting for the spring to come         Of life's necessities we lack;     And sip the nectar that we find     In luscious fruit with golden rind.     But down the street we dread to walk,         For all the teachings of our youth     Receive an agonizing shock;         Do tempting labels lie, forsooth?     For "out of Florida," she says,     "Come our Bermuda oranges."     To speed the penitential prayer         Our rosary we finger o'er,     A yellow necklace rich and rare -         'Twas purchased at the dollar store;     But oh, it makes us sigh to see     That land of amber bijouterie!     Oh, ocean wave and flying sail         Shall never waft us to its shore!     But if some reckless cyclone gale         Should drop Bermuda at our door,     'Twould warm our February sky     And bring the time of roses nigh!