Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832)

I WANDERED lonely

Beneath the trees,

And sought for nothing,

But strolled at ease.

There in the shadows

A flower grew,

Like starlight beaming,

Like eyes so blue.

I sought to break it,

But heard it say:

“Shall I be broken

To fade away?”

I dug it out then

With roots and all,

And bore it home to

My garden small.

Again it’s planted

And finds repose;

And now as ever

It blooms and grows.