Page 102 - Viva Real English 4 : Ebook

14 The Violet

Down in a green and shady bed,

A modest violet grew;

Its stalk was bent, it hung its head

As if to hide from view.

And yet it was a lovely flower,
Its colour bright and fair;

It might have graced a rosy bower,

Instead of hiding there.

Yet there it was content to bloom,

In modest tints arrayed;

And there diffused a sweet perfume,

Within the silent shade.

Then let me to the valley go

This pretty flower to see;
That I may also learn to grow

In sweet humility.
Jane Taylor

modest : not trying to attract content : happy and satisfied
attention or impress others; bloom : produce flowers

shy tints : faint shades of colour
violet : a small plant with white or arrayed : arranged
purple flowers with a sweet diff used : spread widely
smell that appears in spring humility : the quality of being
stalk : a thin stem that supports a humble, that is, not thinking

leaf, flower or fruit that you are better than other
graced : made more attractive people
bower : a pleasant place under the

branches of a tree
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