In a vase of gold

    IRISES

    IN a vase of gold 
    And scarlet, how cold 
    The flicker of wrinkled grays 
    In this iris-sheaf ! My eyes fill with wonder 
    At the tossed, moist light, at the withered scales under 
    And among the uncertain sprays. 

    The wavings of white 
    On the cloudy light, 
    And the finger-marks of pearl ; 
    The facets of crystal, the golden feather, 
    The way that the petals fold over together, 
    The way that the buds unfurl !