A child sleeps under a Rosebush fair,
The buds swell out in the soft May air;
Sweetly it rests, and on dream-wings flies
To play with the angels in Paradise.
 ... .

A maiden stands by the Rosebush fair.
The dewy blossoms perfume the air.
She presses her hand to her throbbing breast,
With love's first wonderful rapture blest:
 ... .

A Mother kneels by the Rosebush fair,
Soft sigh the leaves in the evening air.
Sorrowing thoughts of the past arise,
And tears of anquish bedim her eyes.
 ... .

Naked and alone stands the Rosebush  ... ,
Whirl'd are the leaves in the autumn air,
Wither'd and dead and dead they fall to the ground,
And silently cover a new-made mound:
 ... .