THORNLESS ROSES
"No rose may bloom without a thorn?"
Come down the garden paths and see
How brightly in the scented air
They bloom for you and me!
Come down the garden paths and see
How brightly in the scented air
They bloom for you and me!
See how, like rosy clouds, they lie
Against the perfect, stainless blue!
See how they toss their airy heads,
And smile for me, for you!
Against the perfect, stainless blue!
See how they toss their airy heads,
And smile for me, for you!
No scanty largess, meanly doled—
No pallid blooms, by two, by three,
But a whole crowd of pink-white wings
Fluttering for you and me.
No pallid blooms, by two, by three,
But a whole crowd of pink-white wings
Fluttering for you and me.
So fair they are I cannot choose;
I pluck the rich spoils here and there
I heap them on your waiting arms;
I twine them in your hair.
I pluck the rich spoils here and there
I heap them on your waiting arms;
I twine them in your hair.
There is no thorn among them all—
No sharp sting in the heart of bliss—
No bitter in the honeyed cup—
No burning in the kiss.
No sharp sting in the heart of bliss—
No bitter in the honeyed cup—
No burning in the kiss.
Nay, quote the proverb if you must,
And mock the truth you will not see;
Nathless, Love's thornless roses blow
Somewhere for you and me.
And mock the truth you will not see;
Nathless, Love's thornless roses blow
Somewhere for you and me.
