BRIER ROSE
In among the tall weeds
There lives a brier rose.
Bright among the rugged reeds
She bends and blooms and blows.
The ragged bloom around her grows,
And rough and rude her bed:
But kisses of the wind she knows,
And blushes warm and red.
The sunny moor before her lies
The stream runs bright and clear.
She does not reck o’ sombre skies,
Nor knows the changing year.
She has no ken o’ winter drear,
Nor dreads the frost and storm:
For summer winds have called her Dear,
She blushes red and warm.