I loved to view the flowers, those stars of earth,
As stars are flowers of heaven, those glimpses bright
Of a far higher, purer, lovelier world;
Those day dreams of Creation, blooming wild,
Scattered on earth, like angel-smiles in heaven.
Oh! I was happy then, for all above,
And all below, was fair, and pure, and bright;
And then I thought that happier still I'd be
If my freed soul could fleet, as dew from grass,
When the glad morning sun is shining forth,