Quote by Oscar Wilde

"So never will wine-red rose or white, Petal by petal, fall On that stretch of mud and sand that lies By the hideous prison-wall, To tell the men who tramp the yard That God's Son died for all."

— Oscar Wilde, from The Ballad of Reading Gaol

3 likes

More quotes by Oscar Wilde

"Tread lightly, she is near Under the snow, Speak gently, she can hear The daisies grow." from Requiescat

"Sweet, there is nothing left to say But this, that love is never lost, Keen winter stabs the breasts of May Whose crims…" from Her Voice

"But surely it is something to have been The best belovèd for a little while, To have walked hand in hand with Love, and…" from Apologia

"But neither milk-white rose nor red May bloom in prison air; The shard, the pebble, and the flint, Are what they give u…" from The Ballad of Reading Gaol

"And down the long and silent street, The dawn, with silver-sandalled feet, Crept like a frightened girl." from The Harlot's House

"As often-times the too resplendent sun Hurries the pallid and reluctant moon Back to her sombre cave, ere she hath won …" from Silentium Amoris

"How else but through a broken heart May Lord Christ enter in?" from The Ballad of Reading Gaol

"I know not whether Laws be right, Or whether Laws be wrong; All that we know who lie in gaol Is that the wall is strong…" from The Ballad of Reading Gaol

"The yellow leaves begin to fade And flutter from the Temple elms, And at my feet the pale green Thames Lies like a rod …" from Symphony in Yellow

"The vilest deeds like poison weeds, Bloom well in prison-air; It is only what is good in Man That wastes and withers th…" from The Ballad of Reading Gaol

All quotes by Oscar Wilde →

Read the full poem →

Read this quote by Oscar Wilde from "The Ballad of Reading Gaol". Discover more inspiring quotes and poetry on The Poet's Place.