The Flower of Shells and Silver Wire

I sought a meet gift, it might please thee to wear
Among the soft locks of thy fine silken hair;
And asked the two deeps for some treasure or gem,
By nature first formed and imbosomed in them.
,
The mine gave me threads of its fine silver ore;
The ocean cast up its smooth shells to the shore:
Of these I combined the free offering, that now
I bring, and would set o'er thy fair, peaceful brow.
,
The shells, thou wilt see, are unsullied and white;
The silver is modest, and precious, and bright,--
A type! thy quick fancy will readily see,
Yet thou 'lt not confess what its meaning may be.
,
And let the gift sometimes recall to thy mind
The friend, by whose hand its pure parts were combined;
But, oftener, that Friend, in whose hand was the skill
The earth and the seas with their treasures to fill!