Poems and Songs By Robert Gilfillan. Fourth edition. With memoir of the author, and appendix of his latest pieces |
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THY ROSES, ENGLAND. |
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 | Poems and Songs |  |
246
THY ROSES, ENGLAND.
Thy roses, England, must be fair
When two such lovely ones we see—
O! I would bid farewell to care,
Could I beside such blossoms be!
When two such lovely ones we see—
O! I would bid farewell to care,
Could I beside such blossoms be!
The myrtle, 'neath Italia's sky,
Puts forth its leaves of shady green:
The palm-tree lifts its head on high
Where Ganges' sunny banks are seen.
Puts forth its leaves of shady green:
The palm-tree lifts its head on high
Where Ganges' sunny banks are seen.
But not the gems of Indian bowers,
Nor those Italia's gales perfume,
Can match with England's fairest flowers,
The roses of the living bloom!
Nor those Italia's gales perfume,
Can match with England's fairest flowers,
The roses of the living bloom!
For them I mourn, for them I sigh,
For them I breathe my fondest prayer;
Aught else of joy brings not of joy,
If they its pleasures may not share!
For them I breathe my fondest prayer;
Aught else of joy brings not of joy,
If they its pleasures may not share!
247
O! had I wealth as I have will,
Of these fair flowers one rose were mine;
But which to choose would vex me still,
They're both so lovely, so divine!
Of these fair flowers one rose were mine;
But which to choose would vex me still,
They're both so lovely, so divine!
But, oh! in parting, we must part
To meet no more in love's fond tie;
But still enthroned within my heart,
My roses there shall never die!
To meet no more in love's fond tie;
But still enthroned within my heart,
My roses there shall never die!
| Poems and Songs | |