National Lyrics, and Songs for Music/The broken Flower

by Felicia Hemans

‡ THE BROKEN FLOWER.

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Oh! wear it on thy heart, my love!
    Still, still a little while!
Sweetness is lingering in its leaves,
    Tho' faded be their smile.
Yet, for the sake of what hath been,
    Oh! cast it not away!
'Twas born to grace a summer scene,
    A long, bright, golden day,
My love!
    A long, bright, golden day!

A little while around thee, love!
    Its fragrance yet shall cling,
Telling, that on thy heart hath lain,
    A fair, tho' faded thing.

But not ev'n that warm heart hath power
    To win it back from fate:
—Oh! I am like thy broken flower,
    Cherish'd too late, too late,
My love!
    Cherish'd, alas! too late!