| Augustin S. Macdonald, comp. A Collection of Verse by California Poets. 1914. | | | | A Flower of the First | | By Charles S. Aiken |
| | | WHAT is that? It’s only a rosebud; | |
| ’Twas caught as I marched from camp, | |
| As red as the red of her heart’s blood— | |
| Tears made its petals so damp. | |
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| Who threw it? I can guess the maiden; | 5 |
| What matters her name to you? | |
| For with love that flower is laden; | |
| It says: “Eyes of blue—be true!” | |
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| Did she speak? Not a word, just tossed it. | |
| I’d seen her the night before— | 10 |
| It fell, and she thought I’d lost it; | |
| And cried, for she had no more. | |
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| To press it? Never mind—don’t chaff me; | |
| Love weighs some flowers with dew; | |
| Ah, sweet, red blossom, with tears we | 15 |
| Whisper: “Eyes of brown—be true!” | | | | |
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