Final answer:
The excerpt is from John Milton's poem 'Lycidas', which explores themes of loss, grief, and the contrast between light and darkness. The speaker expresses his inability to see the beauty of nature due to his current state of darkness and despair.
Step-by-step explanation:
The excerpt you provided is from John Milton's poem Lycidas. In this poem, the speaker is expressing his inability to see the beauty of nature around him due to his current state of darkness and despair.
The speaker mentions various flowers and scents, such as hawthorn and violets, that he can only guess at in the darkness. The poem explores themes of loss, grief, and the contrast between light and darkness.