The Flower-Angels + 

Of old, with goodwill from the skies⁠— + 

God’s message to them given⁠— + 

The angels came, a glad surprise, + 

And went again to heaven. + 

But now the angels are grown rare, + 

Needed no more as then; + 

Far lowlier messengers can bear + 

God’s goodwill unto men. + 

Each year, the snowdrops’ pallid dawn + 

Breaks from the earth below; + 

Light spreads, till, from the dark updrawn, + 

The noontide roses glow. + 

The snowdrops first⁠—the dawning gray; + 

Then out the roses burn! + 

They speak their word, grow dim⁠—away + 

To holy dust return. + 

Of oracles were little dearth, + 

Should heaven continue dumb; + 

From lowliest corners of the earth + 

God’s messages will come. + 

In thy face his we see, O Lord, + 

And are no longer blind; + 

Need not so much his rarer word, + 

In flowers even read his mind. + 