The Rose of Midnight

 THE moon is now an opening flower, 
The sky a cliff of blue. 
The moon is now a silver rose; 
Her pollen is the dew.

Her pollen is the mist that swings 
Across her face of dreams: 
Her pollen is the April rain, 
Filling the April streams.

Her pollen is eternal life, 
Endless ambrosial foam. 
It feeds the swarming stars and fills 
Their hearts with honeycomb.

The earth is but a passion-flower 
With blood upon his crown. 
And what shall fill his failing veins 
And lift his head, bowed down?

This cup of peace, this silver rose 
Bending with fairy breath 
Shall lift that passion-flower, the earth 
A million times from Death!

Form: Ballad Comments

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Book: Diverse Voices: The Poetry of Human Rights and the Pursuit of Peace