Poems (Scudder)/Azaleas
AZALEAS
You take the trim lawn's centre,
So confident each one,
And spread with sleek complacency
Your satins in the sun.
So confident each one,
And spread with sleek complacency
Your satins in the sun.
Your amethysts and crimsons
To palest coral shade
While fawn and vivid orange
To cream or amber fade.
To palest coral shade
While fawn and vivid orange
To cream or amber fade.
But though you look so haughty
And never try to speak,
Alack, a tiny freckle
That spots each glossy cheek
And never try to speak,
Alack, a tiny freckle
That spots each glossy cheek
Betrays you as the dusk is
Betrayed by one wee star—
And you are of more hardy growth
Than lady-flowers are.
Betrayed by one wee star—
And you are of more hardy growth
Than lady-flowers are.
I know you, brilliant wantons
That from the forest came
To flaunt it in our gardens
And put the rose to shame.
That from the forest came
To flaunt it in our gardens
And put the rose to shame.