This poem was first published in 1925, in Selected Poems. blank Walking down to Ranikhet, Eve and Doris sweetly met, Setting out their laps to fill With flowers that blossom by the hill. All through the gentle afternoon, While the lilies doze and swoon, They ran, and plucked the gaudy store, Then ceased, to tell their treasures o'er. Said Eve - "I count the rhododendron best; Her flaming soul burns redder than the West". "Nay", answered Doris, "for I do suppose The best and sweetest is this blushing rose". Said Eve - "A crimson strawberry I found With fruits and branches trailing on the ground". Replied young Doris - "In a shady spot I plucked sweet primulas, and touch-me-not". Quoth Eve - "A spotted fox-glove here behold. And evening primroses with leaves of gold"; And Doris - "Richer treasure have I yet, For I have found the sky-blue violet". "Ox-eyes are mine, and shut-the-eye-at-noon, That's goat's-beard called", said Eve, replying soon: "And I", said Doris with eyes of blue, "Plucked crane's-bill, marigold, and mullein, too". "This purple speedwell here, with flowers so fine", Said Eve, "was dreaming underneath the pine"; "And I", said Doris, "plucked this golden star Of sacifrage beneath the deodar". "Sweet is the jasmine scent that blooms o'erhead, And berberis is sweet", Eve sweetly said; Answered young Doris - "Hither as I came This rock-rose kindled to a burning flame. Now Eve - "As I was walking in the cool I saw this crow-foot drinking at a pool"; "This slender willow-herb, with lips of red, Was waving on the khud", fair Doris said. Smiled Eve - "The blue forget-me-not is here. Bugloss, and calamint, and eyebright clear"; And Doris - "Where the path goes tripping down This dandelion wore his golden crown". Continued Eve - "Beneath the chestnut shade. Cinquefoil and avens have their couches made"; "And see!" cried Doris, brightening as she spoke, "All these I gathered underneath the oak". Then emptied both their laps, with childish zest, Eager to count the spoils they still possessed; There gromwell, orchis, nipplewort were found, And periscaria, bleeding like a wound. Above, the swallow twittered as it flew, Swimming and circling in the liquid blue; The merry cuckoo, with a flute-like throat, Made the hills echo with his April note. Thus, as the sun went down behind the snows, And over Nampa's height the pale moon rose, Where fire-flies burn, and glow-worms' lamps are set, Eve and fair Doris came to Ranikhet. Poems index Alphabetical list of poems online