Samplers

Samplers written by John Drinkwater

Seeds of Time, 1921

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In praise of love, upon my mind
Samplers I'll make to be,
As lovers long ago designed

Emblems of courtesy,
Threading in warm and frosty wools
Their wisdom's calendars and rules.

He errs to think those hands were set
All spinster-like and cold,
Who spelt a scarlet alphabet,

And birds of blue and gold.
And made immortal garden-plots
Of daisies and forget-me-nots.

The bodkins wove an even pace,
Yet these are lyrics too,
Breathing of spectral lawn and lace,

Old ardours to renew,
For in the corners love would keep
His fold among the little sheep.

So I will samplers make as well.
Nor shall the colours lack
In shining characters to tell

Your lovely Zodiac,
And all your kisses there and words
Shall spring again as flowers and birds.

This work is in the public domain in countries where the copyright term is the author's life plus 70 years or less.