Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, SONNET: THE LAST OF THE ROSES, by PAUL HAMILTON HAYNE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

SONNET: THE LAST OF THE ROSES, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: A royal rose! A rose how darkly red!
Last Line: His actium came with winter's vanguard -- frost!
Subject(s): Flowers; Roses


A ROYAL rose! A rose how darkly red!
A proud, voluptuous, full blown flower, that sways
Her sceptre o'er the wind-swept garden-ways,
With mantling cheek and bold, imperious head!
Alone she lifts above yon desolate bed
A beauty past all terms of raptured praise,
The statelier that she rules in autumn days,
When every rival flower is dimmed or dead!
A haughty Cleopatra! there she smiles,
Unwitting that her sovereign love is lost --
Her Antony! a gorgeous sunflower bloom!
Ah! vain henceforth her beauty and sweet wiles!
Queen! art thou blind? Thy lord hath met his doom;
His Actium came with winter's vanguard -- Frost!





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