732. A White Rose. John Boyle O'Reilly. 1909-14. English Poetry III: From Tennyson to Whitman. The Harvard Classics

English Poetry III: From Tennyson to Whitman.
The Harvard Classics. 1909–14.

732. A White Rose

John Boyle O’Reilly (1844–1890)


THE RED rose whispers of passion,
And the white rose breathes of love;
O, the red rose is a falcon,
And the white rose is a dove.

But I send you a cream-white rosebud	5
With a flush on its petal tips;
For the love that is purest and sweetest
Has a kiss of desire on the lips.