Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE SPECTRE OF THE ROSE, by THEOPHILE GAUTIER



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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE SPECTRE OF THE ROSE, by             Poem Explanation         Poet's Biography
First Line: Your silken fringed lids unclose
Last Line: So blessed all kings may envy it.'
Alternate Author Name(s): Theo, Le Bon
Subject(s): Flowers; Roses


YOUR silken fringed lids unclose
On which some maiden dream doth fall,
I am the spectre of the Rose
You wore at yester evening's ball.
You picked me when besprinkled o'er
With silver pearl drops of the rain,
And through the dance in radiance bore
Until the morning dawned again.

O you! who doomed me thus to die,
Think not to put me now to flight,
Your bed my ghost will hover nigh
And dance around you all the night;
Yet claim I not for life so lost
Masses or dirges, tears or sighs,
This gentle fragrance is my ghost;
And I am come from Paradise.

Such death can never pity claim,
But only envy, I aver;
How many a one would wish the same,
Since your neck was my sepulchre.
On the snow white where I repose,
A poet pressed a kiss, and writ
This epitaph--'Here lies a Rose
So blessed all kings may envy it.'





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