To A Day Lily

What! only to stay             For a single day?     Thou beautiful, bright hued on             Just to open thine eyes             To the blue of the skies     And the light of the glorious sun,             Then, to fade away             In the same rich ray,     And die ere the day is done?             Bright thing of a day             Thou hast caught a ray     From Morn's jewelled curtain fold             On thy burning cheek,             And the ruby streak     His dyed it with charms untold -             And the gorgeous vest             On thy queenly breast,     Is dashed with her choicest gold.             A statelier queen             Has never been seen,     A lovelier never will be! -             Nay, Solomon, dressed             In his kingliest best,     Was never a match for thee,             O beautiful flower,             O joy of an hour -     And only an hour - for me!             An hour, did I say?             Nay, loveliest, nay,     Not thus shall I part with thee,             But with subtle skill             I shall keep thee still,     Fadeless and fresh with me: -             Through toil and duty,             "A thing of beauty     Forever" my own to be'             As with drooping head             Amid thorns I tread,     I shall see thee unfold anew,             In the desert's dust,             Where journey I must,     Why beautiful form shall view,             And visions of Home             O'er my spirit will come,     As thro' tear-drops I gaze on you'