[Editor: This poem by Louisa Lawson was published in “The Lonely Crossing” and Other Poems (1905).]
The Petunia.
Wrung by heart-hunger and pledges unkept,
Sleepless I walked while a silent world slept.
Weeping because I was left by my own,
Crushed by misfortune, to suffer alone!
Looked I then up to the river-blue sky,
“God of the lily stars, if Thou be nigh
Show me a sign.” Then my pleading eyes fell
On a petunia’s tender white bell
Looking straight up to the same God as I,
Trustingly; seeking no sign from the sky.
Wafting upon the oblivious air
Exquisite odour — the incense of prayer.
Only God pities whom only God sees,
Only God sends us such lessons as these.
Chastened, I bent o’er the beautiful flower,
Giving Him thanks for the grace of the hour.
Source:
Louisa Lawson, “The Lonely Crossing” and Other Poems, Sydney: Dawn Office, [1905], p. 62
Editor’s notes:
Him = in a religious context, and capitalized, a reference to God or Jesus
nigh = near, close, especially regarding time or place (e.g. “the time was nigh”); approaching, nearly; almost
o’er = (archaic) over (pronounced the same as “oar”, “or”, and “ore”)
thou = (archaic) you
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