The Flower

I did not pick this flower for you
lest its beauty end its days.
Each lustrous shade and gentle hue
within this forest stays,
and lives to bring forth others,
within deep forest ways.

I would not bring milady fair
a gift of ended life.
I would not cause milady’s care
to come to any strife—
twixt eye most fair
and heart’s true care—
in beauty’s taken life.