Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


ROYAL IS THE ROSE, FR. MARDI by HERMAN MELVILLE

Poet Analysis

First Line: OH! ROYAL IS THE ROSE
Last Line: WHITE-WITHERED IN YOUR CLASP.
Subject(s): FLOWERS; ROSES;

Oh! royal is the rose,
But barbed with many a dart;
Beware, beware the rose,
'Tis cankered at the heart.

Sweet, sweet the sunny down,
Oh! lily, lily, lily down!
Sweet, sweet, Verbena's bloom!
Oh! pleasant, gentle, musky bloom!

Dread, dread the sunny down;
Lo! lily-hooded asp;
Blooms, blooms no more Verbena;
White-withered in your clasp.



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