University of Virginia Library

“ONE ROSE OF SONG”

(MARY PUTNAM JACOBI)
One rose of song
For one sweet deed
On her grave I fling.
But, O, how can I sing
When she takes no heed!
My rose of song
For a fragrant deed,
Tho' she takes no heed,
Still must I bring.
Tho' she needs no praise,
Tho' she hears not my song
On her journey long
In the new, strange ways—
O still must I sing,
My rose I must fling,
Just to ease my heart
Of the sorrow and smart.
In a far-off land
She stretched forth her hand
To me and to mine.
And now, for a sign,
This song I sing
And this rose I bring.
Tho' she take no heed
On her journey long,

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Yet a soul shall hear,
Some soul shall take heed,
And the rose and the deed,
They shall sow their seed.