You came to me bearing bright roses,
  Red like the wine of your heart;
You twisted them into a garland
  To set me aside from the mart.
Red roses to crown me your lover,
  And I walked aureoled and apart.

Enslaved and encircled, I bore it,
  Proud token of my gift to you.
The petals waned paler, and shriveled,
  And dropped; and the thorns started through.
Bitter thorns to proclaim me your lover,
  A diadem woven with rue.

###