Purple Clover.

There is a flower that bees prefer,     And butterflies desire;     To gain the purple democrat     The humming-birds aspire.     And whatsoever insect pass,     A honey bears away     Proportioned to his several dearth     And her capacity.     Her face is rounder than the moon,     And ruddier than the gown     Of orchis in the pasture,     Or rhododendron worn.     She doth not wait for June;     Before the world is green     Her sturdy little countenance     Against the wind is seen,     Contending with the grass,     Near kinsman to herself,     For privilege of sod and sun,     Sweet litigants for life.     And when the hills are full,     And newer fashions blow,     Doth not retract a single spice     For pang of jealousy.     Her public is the noon,     Her providence the sun,     Her progress by the bee proclaimed     In sovereign, swerveless tune.     The bravest of the host,     Surrendering the last,     Nor even of defeat aware     When cancelled by the frost.