The Last Rose
by C.S. Lynch
I walk this road, this lonely road, that overlooks the sea.
Where many and many a year ago I found my love to be.
Beneath these cliffs, these foam-breaking cliffs, I found my love to be.
I found her body, her crumpled body, bludgeoned by the sea.
In a quiet grove, a lonely grove, I buried my only love.
And as I wept, the seraphs, on silent wings, descended from above,
From the heavens, the shining heavens, the angels descended from above.
They sang a song, a soaring song, for my only love.
The seraphs lifted not my soul, my soul so stained with tragedy.
Stained with the death, from those high cliffs, of which I caused to be.
Blackened with the loneliness, the utter loneliness, of which I caused to be.
For it was the withholding of my love that caused this tragedy.
And in this grove, this silent grove, the angel wrought a miracle,
Six new roses, upon six stems, around her grave did circle.
Red, blue, yellow, and purple, orange, white around her grave did circle.
And I stood amazed, gaping and amazed, as the angels wrought a miracle.
Of these six roses, these miraculous roses, five did open into the light.
Five did open, spreading their fragrance upon the winds to alight.
The roses bloomed, wide did bloom, where a sprite upon each petal did alight.
And they sang a song, a lilting song, that brought my soul into the light.
I knew my love, my only love, would be alone nevermore.
She had crossed that river as black as night to the other shore.
And she sang, even now she sang, with the sprites upon the other shore.
So I left that place, that magical place, returning nevermore.
So I walk this road, this lonely road, that overlooks the sea.
I think upon that last rose that had always been meant for me.
Beneath these cliffs, these foam-breaking cliffs, that rose would bloom for me.
Upon that shore, that shore far away, I shall join my love across the sea.
© 1999 C.S. Lynch
C.S. Lynch is a Sophomore at Southeastern Oklahoma State University, studying computer sciences, and has been published in Aphelion previously.
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