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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

TWO RED ROSES ACROSS THE MOON by WILLIAM MORRIS (1834-1896)

Poem Explanation Poet Analysis

First Line: THERE WAS A LADY LIVED IN A HALL
Last Line: TWO RED ROSES ACROSS THE MOON.
Subject(s): FLOWERS; ROSES;
THERE WAS A LADY LIVED IN A HALL,
Large in the eyes, and slim and tall;
And ever she sung from noon to noon,
@3Two red roses across the moon.@1

There was a knight came riding by
In early spring, when the roads were dry;
And he heard that lady sing at the noon,
@3Two red roses across the moon.@1

Yet none the more he stopp'd at all,
But he rode a-gallop past the hall;
And left that lady singing at noon,
@3Two red roses across the moon.@1

Because, forsooth, the battle was set,
And the scarlet and blue had got to be met,
He rode on the spur till the next warm noon: --
@3Two red roses across the moon.@1

But the battle was scatter'd from hill to hill,
From the windmill to the watermill;
And he said to himself, as it near'd the noon,
@3Two red roses across the moon.@1

You scarce could see for the scarlet and blue,
A golden helm or a golden shoe;
So he cried, as the fight grew thick at the noon,
@3Two red roses across the moon!@1

Verily then the gold bore through
The huddled spears of the scarlet and blue;
And they cried, as they cut them down at the noon,
@3Two red roses across the moon!@1

I trow he stopp'd when he rode again
By the hall, though draggled sore with the rain;
And his lips were pinch'd to kiss at the noon
@3Two red roses across the moon.@1

Under the may she stoop'd to the crown,
All was gold, there was nothing of brown;
And the horns blew up in the hall at noon,
@3Two red roses across the moon.@1



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