Al de kinderliederen

[p. 191]

III. The flax-flower.
Vlasbloemetje, III, blz. 122.

‘What rapid growth, what fading mien!

Blue flow'ret of the flax so green!

The sun has reached its highest glory;

This morn you, blooming, charmed the sight,

And now, alas! in shrivelled plight,

You tell us quite a gloomy story!

I say, without disguise or fear,

Were I, you darling flax-flower here,

I'd bloom away the live-long year!

- Yes; that's indeed a pretty thought,

If mirth and dress are only sought,

Not solid use from the beginning;

These charming flowers which here you see,

May not with me the chief things be....’

I form the threads that serve for spinning,

And linseed-oil for merchants' gain -

Did I from blooming ne'er abstain,

Where would your shirts, I ask, remain?

[p. 192]

 

When winter cold frequents our ground,

 

Then many an idle plant is found,

 

On dunghill trodden or upturned.

 

Though twice to die it be my fate,

 

I live again for small and great.

 

Lo! linen, friends! has paper earned,

 

On which, in letters, we may read:

 

‘Though I did bloom, this was my creed,

 

What useful is, that 's fine indeed!’