| Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). A Victorian Anthology, 1837–1895. 1895. |
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| Love and Death |
| | | Rosa Mulholland |
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| IN the wild autumn weather, when the rain was on the sea, | |
| And the boughs sobbed together, Death came and spake to me: | |
| “Those red drops of thy heart I have come to take from thee; | |
| As the storm sheds the rose, so thy love shall broken be,” | |
| Said Death to me. | 5 |
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| Then I stood straight and fearless while the rain was in the wave, | |
| And I spake low and tearless: “When thou hast made my grave, | |
| Those red drops from my heart then thou shalt surely have; | |
| But the rose keeps its bloom, as I my love will save | |
| All for my grave.” | 10 |
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| In the wild autumn weather a dread sword slipped from its sheath; | |
| While the boughs sobbed together, I fought a fight with Death, | |
| And I vanquished him with prayer, and I vanquished him by faith: | |
| Now the summer air is sweet with the rose’s fragrant breath | |
| That conquered Death. | 15 |
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