RPO -- Charles Lamb : To Margaret W------

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Charles Lamb (1775-1834)

To Margaret W------

1Margaret, in happy hour,

2Christen'd from that humble flower

3 Which we a daisy call!

4May thy pretty name-sake be

5In all things a type of thee,

6 And image thee in all.

7Like it you show a modest face,

8An unpretending native grace; --

9 The tulip, and the pink,

10The china and the damask rose,

11And every flaunting flower that blows,

12 In the comparing shrink.

13Of lowly fields you think no scorn;

14Yet gayest gardens would adorn,

15 And grace, wherever set.

16Home-seated in your lonely bower,

17Or wedded -- a transplanted flower --

18 I bless you, Margaret!

Notes

1] "Marguerite, in French, signifies a daisy" (note in Athenaeum edition).

Online text copyright © 2009, Ian Lancashire (the Department of English) and the University of Toronto.
Published by the Web Development Group, Information Technology Services, University of Toronto Libraries.

Original text: Charles and Mary Lamb, Poems and Plays (London: Methuen, 1912): 102-03. PR 4860 A2 1912 Trinity College Library
First publication date: 14 March 1835
Publication date note: The Athenaeum
RPO poem editor: Ian Lancashire
RP edition: RPO 2000.
Recent editing: 4:2002/2/17

Composition date: 8 October 1834
Composition date note: In Edmonton
Rhyme: aabaab

Other poems by Charles Lamb