Classic Poem

Gigantic flower with many golden faces,
Why climbest thou so very high in air?
Art loth to show the very smallest traces
Of sweet Humility with aspect fair?
Well, even 'mongst men they are by far too rare!

I oft have heard how thou in deep devotion
Dost follow Sol, the glorious king of Day.
If this be true, perhaps thou seek'st promotion
To his high courts, thy splendors to display,
And dazzle all who view thy bright array.

Poets we know are strangely given to dreaming,
And thus it came--they all thought this of thee.
'Tis true, sometimes thy yellow flowers do seem in
Just such a mood, and this they chanced to see;
But those who watch thee closely will agree

That yet these flowers at times face all the quarters,
East, West, and North as well as sunny South,
And I have seen them like most patient martyrs
Hang thus for days in time of Summer's drouth,
Although such weather did not stop their growth.

Thou tallest of the tall amongst thy fellows
Look'st like a king. So full of majesty
Art thou, that this alone the truth may tell us
Why we no humble mien in thee can see.
Thou only bow'st to God who fashioned thee.

If this be so thou art a lesson teaching
To all who view thy many golden charms;
And all this time a sermon hast been preaching
To me, and now my heart toward thee warms;
Till I would gladly save thee from Frost's harms.

This may not be; already thou art drooping:
A few more days will strip thy splendors off,
And when Frost comes to find thy tall form stooping
He at thy nakedness perhaps may scoff,
But heed not, 'twas not his thy charms to doff.

Sunflower, I leave thee now, and this truth ponder,
Thou hast fulfilled the task allotted thee.
Have I discharged the obligations under
Which I lay to God? the world? Ah me!
A host of imperfections I can see.

Then let me now, before I cease my rhyming
Take thy strong lesson very much to heart,
That while I am up Life's rough ladder climbing
I still may seek to act a proper part,
And strive to fearless meet Death with his dart.