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The Rhodora Note

On being asked, Whence Note is the flower?

In May, when sea-winds pierced Note our solitudes,
I found the fresh Rhodora in the woods Note,
Spreading its leafless blooms Definition in a damp nook,
To please the desert Definition and the sluggish brook.
The purple petals Note, fallen in the pool Note,
Made the black Note water with their beauty gay;
Here might the red-bird Note come his plumes to cool,
And court the flower that cheapens Note his array.
Rhodora Note! if the sages Note ask thee why
This charm is wasted on the earth and sky,
Tell them, dear, Note that if Note eyes were made for seeing,
Then Beauty is its own excuse for being Note:
Why thou wert there, O rival Note of the rose!
I never thought to ask Note, I never knew:
But, in my simple ignorance Note, suppose
The self-same Power Note that brought me there brought you Note.

1834 [1839]

Notes from students in ENGL 301, Fall 2002, Virginia Commonwealth University

Criticism on "The Rhodora"