One Perfect Rose

A single flow’r he sent me, since we met.

   All tenderly his messenger he chose;

Deep-hearted, pure, with scented dew still wet —

   One perfect rose.

I knew the language of the floweret;

   “My fragile leaves,” it said, “his heart enclose.”

Love long has taken for his amulet

   One perfect rose.

Why is it no one ever sent me yet

   One perfect limousine, do you suppose?

Ah no, it’s always just my luck to get

   One perfect rose.