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While hopeless weak arms on your breast you are crossing.
III.
How wondrous the vision for earth’s glad beholding!
A million of roses in sunshine unfolding!
A-clambering and clustering—here crimson—there creamy—
Pearl-petalled, moss-nested, all dainty and dreamy—
Shell-tinted, bright blushing, or richest red royal—
Creeping and clinging, or upright and loyal!
***
IV.
O babes who are born while your land is at war!
What sorrows are yours e'er life’s brief hour is o’er!
How bright and how brave might your future have been
In happiest home-garden where love is serene.
But you drink with your mother’s milk horror and pain,
Till you die drenched in blood, as the roses in rain.
