One Rose!

ONE--dropped from her breast As she passed along, Like a fluttering bird from a nest, Or the final note of a song-- One--as fragile and fair As the woman herself, I swear! With the light of a thousand sunbeams caught in the waves of her golden hair!

One--white as the snow-- It fell at her feet, When her laughter, clear and low, Replied to the fervid heat Of my love-words wild and vain, And my heart grew numb with pain As her mirthful mockery crushed my heart, and maddened my foolish brain.

Farewell to my dream! I should have known That however fair she may seem, Her heart is as cold as stone, A mirror of social vice, A sparkling nugget of ice, Valued at “so much” or more, and ready for sale at its market price!

A “society star?” Yes, that is true: She is proud; such women are; Yet perhaps she will smile on rule! Your turn will come, maybe: Who knows? perchance you will see The lying glances, the treacherous smiles she lately lavished on me.

If so, you can say You met me to-night: Tell her I went my way Despising her trumpery slight: Man, after all, is king-- He can laugh at the little sting Of a woman’s scorn, when the woman herself is so poor and low a thing.

One rose!--it will fade Ere an hour be past-- Such hothouse blossoms are only made, Like women--to wither fast-- Its leaves will upcurl and die In an odorous silent sigh, And only its little ghost will speak of my transient love gone by.

One rose--it is mine To keep for a while-- I fancy it will not greatly pine For the loss of her ladyship’s smile-- By a cluster of diamonds prest, ’Twas slain on her chilly breast; Together we’ll go, the rose and I--we both have need of rest!