To A Snowdrop. Poem by Samuel Bamford

Welcome, thou little modest flower!
Thou venturest forth in stormy hour,
Bending thine head beneath the shower,
So meek and low;
Smiling at hoary winter's lour,
Amongst the snow.

Welcome, thou little bonny thing!
Clad are the tidings thou dost bring;
Soon will the grass begin to spring,
The trees to bad,
And feathered songsters sweetly sing
In yonder wood.

But all! too short will be thy stay,
Lone guest of winter's dreary day!
Scarce will the sun upon thee play
His beam of light,
Ere thou wilt wither and decay,
And sink in night.

And so have many sunk beside;
Some dropping from their tow'ring pride—
Some in their lowliness have died.
Perchance I may
Look bright upon a stormy world,
And pass away!