Let us crown ourselves with rosebuds before they wither.

Let us crown ourselves with rosebuds before they wither.

Thus to the Rose, the Thistle:
Why art thou not of thistle-breed?
Of use thou'dst, then, be read more

Thus to the Rose, the Thistle:
Why art thou not of thistle-breed?
Of use thou'dst, then, be truly,
For asses might upon thee feed.

When love came first to earth, the Spring
Spread rose-beds to receive him.

When love came first to earth, the Spring
Spread rose-beds to receive him.

The rose that all are praising
Is not the rose for me.

The rose that all are praising
Is not the rose for me.

She wore a wreath of roses,
The night that first we met.

She wore a wreath of roses,
The night that first we met.

There is no gathering the rose without being pricked by the
thorns.

There is no gathering the rose without being pricked by the
thorns.

And thus, what can we do,
Poor rose and poet too,
Who both antedate our mission
read more

And thus, what can we do,
Poor rose and poet too,
Who both antedate our mission
In an unprepared season?

He that plants thorns must never expect to gather roses.

He that plants thorns must never expect to gather roses.

A white rosebud for a guerdon.

A white rosebud for a guerdon.