An Anemone.

"Teach me the wisdom of thy beauty, pray,     That, being thus wise, I may aspire to see What beauty is, whence, why, and in what way     Immortal, yet how mortal utterly: For, shrinking loveliness, thy brow of day     Pleads plaintive as a prayer, anemone. "Teach me wood-wisdom, I am petulant:     Thou hast the wildness of a Dryad's eyes, The shyness of an Oread's, wild plant: -     Behold the bashful goddess where she lies Distinctly delicate! - inhabitant     Ambrosial-earthed, star-cousin of the skies. "Teach me thy wisdom, for, thro' knowing, yet,     When I have drunk dull Lethe till each vein Thuds full oblivion, I shall not forget; -     For beauty known is beauty; to sustain Glad memories with life, while mad regret     And sorrow perish, being Lethe slain." "Teach thee my beauty being beautiful     And beauty wise? - My slight perfections, whole As world, as man, in their creation full     As old a Power's cogitation roll. Teach thee? - Presumption! thought is young and dull -     Question thy God what God is, soul what soul."