Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume V. Nature. 1904. | | | | V. Trees: Flowers: Plants | | The Mariposa Lily | | Ina Donna Coolbrith (1841–1928) |
| | | INSECT or blossom? Fragile, fairy thing, | |
| Poised upon slender tip, and quivering | |
| To flight! a flower of the fields of air; | |
| A jewelled moth; a butterfly, with rare | |
| And tender tints upon his downy wing, | 5 |
| A moment resting in our happy sight; | |
| A flower held captive by a thread so slight | |
| Its petal-wings of broidered gossamer | |
| Are, light as the wind, with every wind astir,— | |
| Wafting sweet odor, faint and exquisite. | 10 |
| O dainty nursling of the field and sky, | |
| What fairer thing looks up to heaven’s blue | |
| And drinks the noontide sun, the dawning’s dew? | |
| Thou wingèd bloom! thou blossom-butterfly! | | | | |
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