A ROSE has thorns as well as honey, I'll not have her for love or money; An iris grows so straight and fine That she shall be no friend of mine; Snowdrops like the snow would chill me; Nightshade would caress and kill me; Crocus like a spear would fright me; Dragon's-mouth might bark or bite me; Convolvulus but blooms to die; A wind-flower suggests a sigh; Love-lies-bleeding makes me sad; And poppy-juice would drive me mad: -- But give me holly, bold and jolly, Honest, prickly, shining holly; Pluck me holly leaf and berry For the day when I make merry. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MOTHER NIGHT by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON THE BOSTON ATHENAEUM by AMY LOWELL TUNICA PALLIO PROPRIOR by MARIANNE MOORE UPON THE SAYING THAT MY VERSES WERE MADE BY ANOTHER by ANNE KILLIGREW THE BOATMAN by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI YARROW REVISITED by WILLIAM WORDSWORTH |