Maiden May sat in her bower, In her blush rose bower in flower, Sweet of scent; Sat and dreamed away an hour, Half content, half uncontent. Why should rose blossoms be born, Tender blossoms, on a thorn Tho' so sweet? Never a thorn besets the corn Scentless in its strength complete. "Why are roses all so frail, At the mercy of a gale, Of a breath? Yet so sweet in life and death." Maiden May sat in her bower, In her blush rose bower in flower, Where a linnet Made one bristling branch the tower For her nest and young ones in it. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...BATTLE OF BRITAIN by CECIL DAY LEWIS DOWN BY THE CARIB SEA: 6. SUNSET IN THE TROPICS by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON HOMAGE TO SEXTUS PROPERTIUS: 9 by EZRA POUND AN EVANGELIST'S WIFE by EDWIN ARLINGTON ROBINSON SANTA FE SKETCHES by CARL SANDBURG DEDICATION TO THE LATER SONNETS TO URANIA by GEORGE SANTAYANA GOOD-BYE DOROTHY GAYLE: THE ROAD TO BUFFALO by KAREN SWENSON HYBRIDS OF WAR: A MORALITY POEM: 2. CAMBODIA by KAREN SWENSON |