Roses and rose-buds, red and white, Nestled between your breasts to-night, And, lying there with drowsy breath, Sweetly resigned themselves to death. Ah, cruel child! that would not so Suffer the perfumed life to go, But, hungering for the rose's heart Of midmost sweetness, plucked apart Petal from petal: "Ah!" you said (With lips that kissed white roses red) "To live on love and roses!" Well, But if the rose were Muriel? | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE FISH by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS LEAVE A KISS WITHIN THE CUP by AGATHIAS SCHOLASTICUS THE DIFFERENCE by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH THE HAYMAKER'S SONG by ALFRED AUSTIN LINES ADAPTED TO A FAVOURITE MILITARY AIR by JAMES HAY BEATTIE |