The lily has a smooth stalk,
Will never hurt your hand;
But the rose upon her briar
Is lady of the land.
There's sweetness in an apple tree,
And profit in the corn;
But lady of all beauty
Is a rose upon a thorn.
When with moss and honey
She tips her bending briar,
And half unfolds her glowing heart,
She sets the world on fire.
More verses by Christina Georgina Rossetti
- When A Mounting Skylark Sings
- When The Cows Come Home The Milk Is Coming
- The Peacock Has A Score Of Eyes
- What Do The Stars Do
- There Is But One May In The Year,