He gave away his Life－1
To Us－Gigantic Sum－
A trifle－in his own esteem－
But magnified－by Fame－
Until it burst the Hearts 5
That fancied they could hold－
When swift it slipped its limit－
And on the Heavens－unrolled－
'Tis Ours－to wince－and weep－ 9
And wonder－and decay
By Blossoms gradual process－
He chose－Maturity－
And quickening－as we sowed－ 13
Just obviated Bud－
And when We turned to note the Growth－
Broke－perfect－from the Pod－
To Us－Gigantic Sum－
A trifle－in his own esteem－
But magnified－by Fame－
Until it burst the Hearts 5
That fancied they could hold－
When swift it slipped its limit－
And on the Heavens－unrolled－
'Tis Ours－to wince－and weep－ 9
And wonder－and decay
By Blossoms gradual process－
He chose－Maturity－
And quickening－as we sowed－ 13
Just obviated Bud－
And when We turned to note the Growth－
Broke－perfect－from the Pod－
(F.530/J.567)
[1] He:: a heart-seed.
[4] magnified by Fame:: it's also known as balloon vine, named for its inflated fruits.
[5] burst:: its black seeds with heart-shaped white mark inside the fruit will burst when pressed.
[9–12] Our's, He:: our heart will wince and weep when breaks, but heart-pea's breaking is to bloom again.
Heart-seed. Balloon-vine. Plant nearly smooth; leaflets ovate-lanceolate, incisely lobed and dentate; flowers small, axillary, solitary; fruit pyriform-globose, large, bladder-like. Native alone the Missouri river. Torr. & Gr. July. A curious vine 4 to 6 feet long, with remarkably large inflated membraneous capsules. ─ Flora of Pennsylvania (1851)
