| William Wilfred Campbell, comp. The Oxford Book of Canadian Verse. 1913. | | | | Song of Roses | | By Amelia Beers (Gavin) Warnock (‘Katherine Hale’) (1878–1956) |
| | | O SINGING Youth, thou wert to me | |
| A pink rose of expectancy! | |
| Laughing I laid thee on my breast, | |
| All radiant of Joy’s bright quest. | |
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| Therewith, on the appointed day, | 5 |
| Came Life to meet me on the way; | |
| A gold rose gave into my hand— | |
| The seal of strength to understand. | |
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| Then, like some wide transforming morn, | |
| Soul signalled soul and love was born, | 10 |
| And Youth that laughs and Life that knows | |
| Melted into one crimson rose. * * * * * | |
| Now God alone can make complete | |
| This little garland soft and sweet, | |
| And give me Death’s white rose of light, | 15 |
| For ever fresh, for ever bright, | |
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| That I may bind with cool green leaves | |
| The flowers of Life with Death’s pale sheaves, | |
| And send them, stripped of thorn and rue, | |
| Perfect and passionless—to you. | 20 | | | |
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