Pierrot's Posies

Nora Hopper Chesson

1871 to 1906

Poem Image

I made a posy for Pierrot
To give his wilful Columbine, 
Of satin-flowers as soft as snow 
And bluebells fine. 
She sent them back with laugh and fleer,
And Pierrot never knew, I wis, 
That in the posy lay a tear 
That was not his. 

I made a posy for Pierrot 
All white and green and yellow; 
And sweeter posy ne'er, I know,
Graced any pretty fellow. 
'Twas gold and white for Love's delight 
With roses brave to see: 
But there for grief we laid a leaf 
Of rosemaiy. 

I made a posy for Pierrot, 
The last of all my posies: 
'Twas thick with lilies cold as snow, 
And pallid Christmas roses. 
We set white hyacinth a-row 
Through feathery cypress peeping, 
And Columbine and I — heigho! 
Threw it with heavy weeping 
Into a grave, that it might go 
Wither with Pierrot sleeping.