 | Late songs |  |
47
THE VISION OF MARY
There's a white rose on the thorn,
A red rose on the tree,
And Christ is born on Christmas morn
That all men may go free.
A red rose on the tree,
And Christ is born on Christmas morn
That all men may go free.
The white rose for Mary,
The red rose for her Son;
When she came down through the sleeping town,
The red and white were one.
The red rose for her Son;
When she came down through the sleeping town,
The red and white were one.
Curled like a little moon
He shone amid the hay,
The stars forsake their heavenly track
To sing him lullalay.
He shone amid the hay,
The stars forsake their heavenly track
To sing him lullalay.
She kneels for to adore
The earth and Heaven's Desire.
Oh, what is this beneath her kiss
Throbs like a little fire?
The earth and Heaven's Desire.
Oh, what is this beneath her kiss
Throbs like a little fire?
48
In each small hand she sees
A red rose-petal lie,
And while she sees hath little ease
Lest Herod should draw nigh.
A red rose-petal lie,
And while she sees hath little ease
Lest Herod should draw nigh.
And when on each small foot
She sees the red-rose stain,
She would snatch him fast unto her breast
Lest he in snares be ta'en.
She sees the red-rose stain,
She would snatch him fast unto her breast
Lest he in snares be ta'en.
Oh, when she sees the smirch
Of the red rose on His side,
What sword is in her heart; what dart
That will not be denied?
Of the red rose on His side,
What sword is in her heart; what dart
That will not be denied?
What coronal of gems,
Of ruby or coral spine,
Now, now is laid on His pretty head,
With His sweet curls doth twine?
Of ruby or coral spine,
Now, now is laid on His pretty head,
With His sweet curls doth twine?
His Mother stoops to kiss
The wounds of her Baby Son;
In dreams she sees a high trellis
And one red rose thereon.
The wounds of her Baby Son;
In dreams she sees a high trellis
And one red rose thereon.
49
The sword turns in her heart,
She clasps Him warm and close,
With lullaby-loo His fret unto
She lulls her Destined Rose.
She clasps Him warm and close,
With lullaby-loo His fret unto
She lulls her Destined Rose.
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