Apple Blossoms

 

Apple Blossoms

Of all the lovely blossoms
        That decorate the trees,
      And shower down their petals
        With every breath of breeze,
There is nothing so sweet or fair to me
As the delicate blooms of the apple tree.

      A thousand shrubs and flow’rets
        Delicious pleasure bring,
      But beautiful Pomona
        Must be the queen of spring;
And out of her flagon the peach and pear
Their chalices fill with essence rare.

      Oh, is it any wonder,
        Devoid of blight or flaw,
      The peerless blooms of Eden
        Our primal mother saw
In redolent beauty before her placed
So tempted fair Eve the fruit to taste?

      But woman’s love of apples,
        Involving fearful price,
      And Adam’s love for woman
        That cost him Paradise,
By the labor of hands and sweat of brow,
Have softened the curse to a blessing now.

      If so those pink-eyed glories,
        In fields and orchards gay
      Develop luscious fruitage
        By Horticulture’s way,
Then, sweet as the heart of rich legumes,
Shall luxury follow the apple blooms.

Hattie Howard