Celandine + 

Thinking of her had saddened me at first, + 

Until I saw the sun on the celandines lie + 

Redoubled, and she stood up like a flame, + 

A living thing, not what before I nursed, + 

The shadow I was growing to love almost, + 

The phantom, not the creature with bright eye + 

That I had thought never to see, once lost. + 

She found the celandines of February + 

Always before us all. Her nature and name + 

Were like those flowers, and now immediately + 

For a short swift eternity back she came, + 

Beautiful, happy, simply as when she wore + 

Her brightest bloom among the winter hues + 

Of all the world; and I was happy too, + 

Seeing the blossoms and the maiden who + 

Had seen them with me Februarys before, + 

Bending to them as in and out she trod + 

And laughed, with locks sweeping the mossy sod. + 

But this was a dream: the flowers were not true, + 

Until I stooped to pluck from the grass there + 

One of five petals and I smelt the juice + 

Which made me sigh, remembering she was no more, + 

Gone like a never perfectly recalled air. + 