Lays and Legends (Second Series)

RONDEAU

A red, red rose, all wet with dew,
With leaves of green by red shot through,
And sharp, thin thorns, and scent that brings
Delicious memories of lost things,
A red rose, sweet – yet sad as rue.

'Twas a red rose you gave me – you
Whose gifts so sacred were, and few —
And that is why your lover sings
A red, red rose.

I sing – with lute untuned, untrue,
And worse than other lovers do,
Because perplexing memory stings —
Because from your green grave there springs,
With your spilt life-blood coloured through,
A red, red rose.