Ann Eliza Bleecker

“ Seeks the parterre with early blue bells drest,
Drinks deep the honeysuckle dew, or drives
The lab'ring bee to her domestic hives:
Then shines the lupin bright with morning gems,
And sleepy poppies nod upon their stems;
The humble violet and the dulcet rose,
The stately lily then, and tulip blows.
Farewell my Plutarch! farewell pen and Muse!
Nature exults---shall I her call refuse? ”

“ Where hid, th' elusive water-melons lie;
Sportive, they make incisions in the rind,
The riper from the immature to find;
Then load their tender shoulders with the prey,
And laughing bear the bulky fruit away. ”

“ Yet soon fair Spring shall give another scene,
And yellow cowslips gild the level green; ”