New Zealand Verse/Rosebuds

C.

Rosebuds.

High on the lattice-work clustered the roses;
   And lower, half-blown,
One little bud in the morning was drooping,
   Fragrant, alone;
And my little sweetheart saw it, and claimed it
   All as her own.

I lifted her up; she would taste of its sweetness
   From the tree as it hung:
She drew it towards her, her lips were all hidden
   The petals among;
But the blossom was wet, and the dews were down shaken
   From where they had clung.

Then she loosened her hold of the pinky-pearl blossom
   And stood by my side,
And her cheeks,—they were wet from the dews that were shaken,
   As though she had cried;
And she pouted, complaining the rose kissed unkindly
   As half-satisfied.

Then I told her I knew of a bud that was sweeter
   Than rosebuds to me;
And the dews only made it more lovely and rosy
   And tempting to see;
Then I kissed her dear lips,—and she waywardly left me
   Alone by the tree.