Steals timidly away,
Shrinking as violets do in summer's ray.

Steals timidly away,
Shrinking as violets do in summer's ray.

A vi'let on the meadow grew,
That no one saw, that no one knew,
It was a read more

A vi'let on the meadow grew,
That no one saw, that no one knew,
It was a modest flower.
A shepherdess pass'd by that way--
Light footed, pretty and so gay;
That way she came,
Softly warbling forth her lay.

And the violet lay dead while the odour flew
On the wings of the wind o'er the waters blue.

And the violet lay dead while the odour flew
On the wings of the wind o'er the waters blue.

It had a dying fall;
O, it came o'er my ear like the sweet sound
That breathes read more

It had a dying fall;
O, it came o'er my ear like the sweet sound
That breathes upon a bank of violets,
Stealing and giving odor.

Early violets blue and white
Dying for their love of light.

Early violets blue and white
Dying for their love of light.

The violets thinks, with her timid blue eye,
To pass for a blossom enchantingly shy.

The violets thinks, with her timid blue eye,
To pass for a blossom enchantingly shy.

Who are the violets now
That strew the green lap of the new-come spring?

Who are the violets now
That strew the green lap of the new-come spring?

And shade the violets,
That they may bind the moss in leafy nets.

And shade the violets,
That they may bind the moss in leafy nets.

A blossom of returning light,
An April flower of sun and dew;
The earth and sky, the read more

A blossom of returning light,
An April flower of sun and dew;
The earth and sky, the day and night
Are melted in her depth of blue!