"And now a flower is just a flower:

Man, bird, beast are but beast, bird, man—

Simply themselves, uncinct by dower

Of dyes which, when life's day began,

Round each in glory ran."

Friend, did you need an optic glass,

Which were your choice? A lens to drape

In ruby, emerald, chrysopras,

Each object—or reveal its shape

Clear outlined, past escape,