The Poetry Corner

Daffodil

By William Allingham

Gold tassel upon March's bugle-horn, Whose blithe reveille blows from hill to hill And every valley rings O Daffodil! What promise for the season newly born? Shall wave on wave of flow'rs, full tide of corn, O'erflow the world, then fruited Autumn fill Hedgerow and garth? Shall tempest, blight, or chill Turn all felicity to scathe and scorn? Tantarrara! the joyous Book of Spring Lies open, writ in blossoms; not a bird Of evil augury is seen or heard: Come now, like Pan's old crew, we'll dance and sing, Or Oberon's: for hill and valley ring To March's bugle-horn, Earth's blood is stirred.