Forget Me Not: A Hypertextual Archive

To the Flower
"Forget Me Not"
by Bernard Barton

[page 1]

Blossoms more rich and rare than Thou
May twine round Beauty’s graceful brow
In moods of sunny mirth;
The Rose’s or the Myrtle’s flower
Might more beseem her festive hour,
And give, in Pleasure’s careless bower,
To brighter fancies birth.

But in those moments, sad, yet dear,
When parting wakes Affection’s tear,
Thy stainless blossoms’ braid,
Whose name forbids us to forget,
Would be the chosen coronet
Love on the loveliest brow would set
To crave fond Memory’s aid.

[page 2]

When "earth to earth," and "dust to dust,"
The lov’d, lamented, we entrust,
What flower may grace the spot
Where sleep the reliques of the dead,
For whom the frequent tear is shed,
Like thine – which, from the grave’s cold bed,
Repeats "Forget me not!"

Yet not in pensive moods alone
Thy heart-appealing name we own
To love, to friendship dear;
Were not that name with joy combin’d
Were not they bright blue blossoms twin’d
With hopes as bright – though wouldst not find
An honour’d station here.

Not in our volume’s opening leaf
Should flower which only imag’d grief
A mournful emblem stand;
For unforgetting love, whose light
Makes even sorrow’s clouds look bright,
In joy and hope, with magic might,
The feelings can expand.

And therefore would we place thee here,
Symbol of hopes the heart holds dear,
In every clime and age;
Thoughts – lov’d in sunshine or in gloom,
Priz’d from the cradle to the tomb,
Prompt us to wreathe they azure bloom
To deck our opening page.

[page 3]

Here, then, ‘mid pointed leaves of green,
Be thy cerulean blossoms seen,
To grace our garden-plot;
Nor would we prouder flowers entwine
Round Friendship’s or Affection’s shrine,
Than one which can recal, like thing,
The words "Forget Me Not!"