by Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872 - 1906)
Promise
Language: English
I grew a rose within a garden fair, And, tending it with more than loving care, I thought how, with the glory of its bloom, I should the darkness of my life illume; And, watching, ever smiled to see the lusty bud Drink freely in the summer sun to tinct its blood. My rose began to open, and its hue Was sweet to me as to it sun and dew; I watched it taking on its ruddy flame Until the day of perfect blooming came, Then hasted I with smiles to find it blushing red— Too late! Some thoughtless child had plucked my rose and fled!
Confirmed with The Complete Poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar, New York: Dodd, Mead and Company, 1915, Page 12.
Text Authorship:
- by Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872 - 1906), "Promise" [author's text checked 1 time 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 Florence Bea Price (1887 - 1953), "Promise", published 1977 [ voice and piano ], from I Grew a Rose, no. 1 [sung text checked 1 time]
Research team for this page: Grant Hicks [Guest Editor] , Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2025-08-26
Line count: 12
Word count: 106