Better Gutenberg
Free, beautifully formatted public-domain ebooks

The Man with the Hoe

by Edwin Markham

25 of 72 · Contents · Download EPUB

The Butterfly

O wingèd brother on the harebell, stay—
  Was God’s hand very pitiful, the hand
  That wrought thy beauty at a dream’s demand?

Yea, knowing I love so well the flowery way,
He did not fling me to the world astray—
  He did not drop me to the weary sand,
  But bore me gently to a leafy land:
Tinting my wings, He gave me to the day.

Oh, chide no more my doubting, my despair!
  I will go back now to the world of men.
Farewell, I leave thee to the world of air,
  Yet thou hast girded up my heart again;
For He that framed the impenetrable plan,
And keeps His word with thee, will keep with man.

← Back to The Man with the Hoe

Scroll to Top