FIRST came the primrose,           On the bank high,           Like a maiden looking forth           From the window of a tower           When the battle rolls below,           So look'd she,           And saw the storms go by.

          Then came the wind-flower           In the valley left behind,           As a wounded maiden, pale           With purple streaks of woe,           When the battle has roll'd by           Wanders to and fro,           So totter'd she,           Dishevell'd in the wind.

          Then came the daisies,           On the first of May,           Like a banner'd show's advance           While the crowd runs by the way, With ten thousand flowers about them they came trooping through the fields.           As a happy people come,           So came they,           As a happy people come           When the war has roll'd away,           With dance and tabor, pipe and drum,           And all make holiday.

          Then came the cowslip,           Like a dancer in the fair,           She spread her little mat of green,           And on it danced she.           With a fillet bound about her brow,           A fillet round her happy brow,           A golden fillet round her brow,           And rubies in her hair.