Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ROSARY BEADS by HERMAN MELVILLE

Poet Analysis

First Line: ADORE THE ROSES; NOR DELAY
Last Line: OF EVER-CREEPING LAND.
Subject(s): FLOWERS; ROSARY; ROSES;
1

THE ACCEPTED TIME

Adore the Roses; nor delay
Until the rose-fane fall,
Or ever their censers cease to sway:
"To-day!" the rose-priests call.

2

WITHOUT PRICE

Have the Roses. Needs no pelf
The blooms to buy,
Nor any rose-bed to thyself
Thy skill to try:
But live up to the Rose's light,
Thy meat shall turn to roses red,
Thy bread to roses white.

3

GRAIN BY GRAIN

Grain by grain the Desert drifts
Against the Garden-Land:
Hedge well thy Roses, head the stealth
Of ever-creeping Land.



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