A (G) rose won’t grow
If the (Em) soil below goes (D) dry,
It (C) withers and (D) droops and (C) dies at
the (D) root,
And (G) its red petals drop
Like (Em) blood that won’t stop from a (D) wound
And (C) then the
(D) flower
(C) Without any (D) power lies (G) ruined.
The heart is the same,
The stream in the vein gives it life;
Cut off the flow and it won’t go
For
blood is the source
Of all that force in the beat;
Body and soul
Need it to roll for heat.
And fire won’t glow
If wind doesn’t blow on the hearth;
The yellow blaze
Smoulders and fades,
And
you’re left to poke
At the cinders and smoke that remain,
But without air
You would despair of the flame.
O when my first flame died
And you became my love
A fresh breath of air made sparks appear
And my heart,
like coal,
Lit up and my soul took fire,
While out in your bed
You grew blushing red, my flower .
