Désirée

What means the blood-red blooms that rose
The garth in which you dwell?
Such gardens of desire enclose
So cold a citadel.


What though thine heart's environs make
Delight to hear and see,
If none from raptured walls shall take
That frore virginity?


What though that closed approach may glass
An opal's changing fire,
If none to rule its light may pass
The gardens of desire?


The autumn mists thy garth shall grieve,
The scentless roses fall,
The lustres of thy siege shall leave
An unadventured wall.


Slow fall the night's unchanging snows,
Where the red roses fell,
No gardens of desire enclose
So lost a citadel.

The End