1 Once in a golden h our a
I cast to earth a seed. b
Up there came a flower, . a
The people said, a w eed b

5 To and fro they w ent c
Thro' my garden-b ower , d
And muttering discont ent c
Cursed me and my fl ower . d

Then it grew so t all e
10 It wore a crown of l igh t, f
But thieves from o'er the w all e
Stole the seed by n ight ; f

Sow'd it far and w ide g
By every town and t ower , h
15 Till all the people cr ied , g
‘Splendid is the fl ower .' h

Read my little fable: i *
He that runs may r ead . j
Most can raise the flowers now k *
20 For all have got the s eed . j

And some are pretty enough, l *
And some are poor ind eed ; m
And now again the people n *
Call it but a w eed . m

*This is not a complete rhythm.

The Flower (1842)

From: Enoch Arden, and other poems (1864)

http://tennysonpoetry.home.att.net/flower.htm