IN THE HEART OF A ROSE
Reading edition
As I strolled through the close, in the heart of a rose, I espied of a woman the figure divine, In a rose, ruby stained, as a chalice with wine. And the opening rose did her beauty disclose; Her red lips she upraised to my lips, wove her arms Round my neck, bound me fast with her spells and her charms. And this woman I chose from the heart of the rose, Chose to share all my dreamland of love and of power, Stole my soul and imprisoned my soul in the flower.