Perchance escaped its unknown polar cave.

E’en now the keen north-east is on its way,

Flower thou must perish! Shall I liken thee

To some sweet girl of too, too rapid growth?

Samuel T. Coleridge, 1770–1849.

FEBRUARY.

Dip down upon the northern shore,

O sweet new year, delaying long,

Thou dost expectant nature wrong,

Delaying long, delay no more.