A ROSE weighed down with loveliness I asked, 'Canst tell me, conquering Rose, Whose perfume thrills with sweet excess, How Love into the bosom flows?' The Rose replied, ''Tis all a dream, How Love is born none ever knew; Yet this I tell you, that I deem To him is all my fragrance due.' A Nightingale who charmed the shade To life I questioned, 'Tuneful King, Who night hast sweetly solemn made, Teach, what is Love? whence does it spring?' 'I cannot tell,' the Master sung, A thrill of passion passed him by; 'Yet this I feel, I know, that sprung From him alone my melody.' The Dew with pearls had strewed the ground, Then from the Dew I sought advice-- 'Hast thou Love's mystic secret found, Thou who dost come from Paradise?' 'I know not,' did the Dew reply, 'But feel full well its misery; The drops that on thy tresses lie Are tear-drops that he wrings from me.' Thou who in Churchyard dost delight, Black Cypress, thou shalt answer too; 'From ghosts that gibber in the night, Has nought of Love been shown to you?' The Cypress, with a voice of woe More ominous than ravens have, Said, 'Love I saw an hour ago, As he was marking out your grave.' | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...I'VE NEVER SEEN SUCH A REAL HARD TIME BEFORE' by HAYDEN CARRUTH BURNING DAWN by HAYDEN CARRUTH A WINTER'S NIGHT by ROBERT FROST LA NOCHE TRISTE by ROBERT FROST WHAT WE SAID THE LIGHT SAID by JAMES GALVIN TWO POEMS FROM THE WAR: 1 by ARCHIBALD MACLEISH |