by Thomas Haynes Bayly (1797 - 1839)
She wore a wreath of roses
Language: English
She wore a wreath of roses the night that first we met, Her lovely face was smiling beneath her curls of jet; Her footsteps had the lightness, her voice the joyous tone, The tokens of a youthful heart where sorrow is unknown; I saw her but a moment, yet me thinks I see her now With the wreath of summer flowers upon her snowy brow: A wreath of orange blossoms when next we met, she wore; The expression of her features was more thoughtful than before; And standing by her side was one who strove and not in vain To soothe her, leaving that dear home she ne'er might view again; I saw her but a moment yet me thinks I see her now With the wreath of orange blossoms upon her snowy brow. And once again I see that brow no bridal wreath is there, The widow's somber cap conceals her once luxuriant hair; She weeps in silent solitude, and there is no one near To press her hands within his own and wipe away the tear; I see her broken hearted! Yet me thinks I see her now, In the pride of youth and beauty, with a garland on her brow.
Text Authorship:
- by Thomas Haynes Bayly (1797 - 1839), "She wore a wreath of roses", first published 1840 [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Joseph Philip Knight (1812 - 1887), "She wore a wreath of roses", published 1840. [voice and piano or guitar] [text not verified]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2004-05-07
Line count: 18
Word count: 203