O Roses for the Flush of Youth
The speaker calls for roses for youth and laurel for life's prime, but asks for ivy, having grown old before their time. After naming violets for the grave of youth and bay for those dead in their prime, the speaker requests withered leaves chosen long ago.
By Christina Georgina Rossetti · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Melancholic Poetry · 78 words
First lines
Song.
O roses for the flush of youth, / And laurel for the perfect prime; / But pluck an ivy branch for me / Grown old before my time.
O violets for the grave of youth, / And bay for those dead in their prime; / Give me the withered leaves I chose / Before in the old time.
Genres
- Lyric Poetry — Two rhymed quatrains express the speaker's personal requests through contrasting plants.
- Melancholic Poetry — The speaker describes growing old before their time and asks for withered leaves alongside references to early death.
Tags
premature aging · flowers · withered leaves · mortality
What this Textopian page supports
O Roses for the Flush of Youth is listed on Textopian as a poem by Christina Georgina Rossetti, dated Date unknown.
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- Work type: Poem
- Author: Christina Georgina Rossetti
- Date: Date unknown
- Language: English
- Genres: Lyric Poetry, Melancholic Poetry
- Length: 78 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
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