Sunday Muse

My bonnie flower, with truest joy

Thy welcome face I see,

The world grows brighter to my eyes,

And summer comes with thee.

My solitude now finds a friend,

And after each hard day,

I in my mountain garden walk,

To rest, or sing, or pray.

All down the rocky slope is spread

Thy veil of rosy snow,

And in the valley by the brook,

Thy deeper blossoms grow.

The barren wilderness grows fair,

Such beauty dost thou give;

And human eyes and Nature's heart

Rejoice that thou dost live.

~excerpt 'Mountain-Laurel' from A Garland for Girls by Louisa May Alcott