Requiescat

ROSA MYSTICA

REQUIESCAT

Tread lightly, she is near

      Under the snow,

Speak gently, she can hear

      The daisies grow.

All her bright golden hair

      Tarnished with rust,

She that was young and fair

      Fallen to dust.

Lily-like, white as snow,

      She hardly knew

She was a woman, so

      Sweetly she grew.

Coffin-board, heavy stone,

      Lie on her breast,

I vex my heart alone,

      She is at rest.

Peace, Peace, she cannot hear

      Lyre or sonnet,

All my life's buried here,

      Heap earth upon it.

Avignon.