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- THE ROSE
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- TO THE ROSE UPON THE ROOD OF TIME
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- i{Red Rose, proud Rose, sad Rose of all my days!}
- i{Come near me, while I sing the ancient ways:}
- i{Cuchulain battling with the bitter tide;}
- i{The Druid, grey, wood-nurtured, quiet-eyed,}
- i{Who cast round Fergus dreams, and ruin untold;}
- i{And thine own sadness, where of stars, grown old}
- i{In dancing silver-sandalled on the sea,}
- i{Sing in their high and lonely melody.}
- i{Come near, that no more blinded hy man's fate,}
- i{I find under the boughs of love and hate,}
- i{In all poor foolish things that live a day,}
- i{Eternal beauty wandering on her way.}
- i{Come near, come near, come near -- Ah, leave me still}
- i{A little space for the rose-breath to fill!}
- i{Lest I no more bear common things that crave;}
- i{The weak worm hiding down in its small cave,}
- i{The field-mouse running by me in the grass,}
- i{And heavy mortal hopes that toil and pass;}
- i{But seek alone to hear the strange things said}
- i{By God to the bright hearts of those long dead,}
- i{And learn to chaunt a tongue men do not know.}
- i{Come near; I would, before my time to go,}
- i{Sing of old Eire and the ancient ways:}
- i{Red Rose, proud Rose, sad Rose of all my days.}
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