Classic and Contemporary Poetry
A BUNCH OF ROSES, by ANDREW BARTON PATERSON Poet's Biography First Line: Roses ruddy and roses white Last Line: Bending his head to a bunch of roses. Alternate Author Name(s): Paterson, 'banjo' Subject(s): Death; Flowers; God; Hearts; Life; Roses; Dead, The | ||||||||
Roses ruddy and roses white, What are the joys that my heart discloses? Sitting alone in the fading light Memories come to me here tonight With the wonderful scent of the big red roses. Memories come as the daylight fades Down on the hearth where the firelight dozes; Flicker and flutter the lights and shades, And I see the face of a queen of maids Whose memory comes with the scent of roses. Visions arise of a scene of mirth, And a ballroom belle who superbly poses -- A queenly woman of queenly worth, And I am the happiest man on earth With a single flower from a bunch of roses. Only her memory lives tonight -- God in His wisdom her young life closes; Over her grave may the turf be light, Cover her coffin with roses white -- She was always fond of the big white roses. * * * * * Such are the visions that fade away -- Man proposes and God disposes; Look in the glass and I see today Only an old man, worn and grey, Bending his head to a bunch of roses. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A FRIEND KILLED IN THE WAR by ANTHONY HECHT FOR JAMES MERRILL: AN ADIEU by ANTHONY HECHT TARANTULA: OR THE DANCE OF DEATH by ANTHONY HECHT CHAMPS D?ÇÖHONNEUR by ERNEST HEMINGWAY NOTE TO REALITY by TONY HOAGLAND A BALLAD OF DUCKS by ANDREW BARTON PATERSON |
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