ON a green slope, most fragrant with the spring, One sweet, fair day I planted a red rose, That grew, beneath my tender nourishing, So tall, so riotous of bloom, that those Who passed the little valley where it grew Smiled at its beauty. All the air was sweet About it! Still I tended it, and knew That he would come, e'en as it grew complete. And a day brought him! Up I led him, where In the warm sun my rose bloomed gloriously -- Smiling and saying, "So, is it not fair? And all for thee--all thine!" But he passed by Coldly, and answered, "Rose? I see no rose," Leaving me standing in the barren vale Alone! alone! feeling the darkness close Deep o'er my heart, and all my being fail. Then came one, gently, yet with eager tread, Begging one rosebud -- but my rose was dead. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SISTER MARIA CELESTE, GALILEO'S DAUGHTER, WRITES TO FRIEND by MADELINE DEFREES AGAINST THE REST OF THE YEAR by JAMES GALVIN FRAGMENTS WRITTEN WHILE TRAVELING...A MIDWESTERN HEAT WAVE by JAMES GALVIN THE SEMANTICS OF FLOWERS ON MEMORIAL DAY by BOB HICOK THE COTTON CLUB by CLARENCE MAJOR MY LIGHT WITH YOURS by EDGAR LEE MASTERS |