Buttercups And Daisies

Buttercups and daisies,

Oh, the pretty flowers,

Coming ere the spring time,

To tell of sunny hours.

While the tree are leafless,

While the fields are bare,

Buttercups and daisies

Spring up here and there.

Ere the snowdrop peepeth,

Ere the crocus bold,

Ere the early primrose

Opes its paly gold,

Somewhere on the sunny bank

Buttercups are bright;

Somewhere 'mong the frozen grass

Peeps the daisy white.

Little hardy flowers,

Like to children poor,

Playing in their sturdy health

By their mother's door,

Purple with the north wind,

Yet alert and bold;

Fearing not, and caring not,

Though they be a-cold!

What to them is winter!

What are stormy showers!

Buttercups and daisies

Are these human flowers!

He who gave them hardships

And a life of care,

Gave them likewise hardy strength

And patient hearts to bear.

Mary Howitt.