Weed or Flower

<SPAN name="startofbook"></SPAN> <p class="poem"><span class="big"><i>WEED OR FLOWER</i></span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p class="poem"> "'Tis but a common thing," one coldly said,<br/> <span style="margin-left: 1em;">"Nay, call it not a flower&mdash;this little weed,</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 1em;">If plucking it, I kill it, root and seed&mdash;</span><br/> Better the world were if it lay there dead."<br/> <br/> "Ah&mdash;rather let it live!" a second cried,<br/> <span style="margin-left: 1em;">"Weed it may be, and yet it has its use,</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 1em;">Here in its healing essence its excuse</span><br/> For blooming lies, and here its only pride."<br/> <br/> "Destroy it not!" another pled, "Behold<br/> <span style="margin-left: 1em;">This tapering leaf&mdash;this soft and tender green,</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 1em;">Upon my canvas it shall bloom serene&mdash;</span><br/> This tiny chalice-fleck of living gold."<br/> <br/> Then one bent over it, "Ah, flowret bright!<br/> <span style="margin-left: 1em;">For only flowers in this garden grow,&mdash;</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 1em;">His earth, His sunshine made thee, o'er thee blow</span><br/> His winds, frail thing! In thee He shows His might."<br/></p> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />