Ashes of Roses

By Leigh Gordon Giltner

Skies glooming overhead,

Autumn winds sighing;

Bare yonder garden bed,

Flowers low lying.

All their rich radiance fled,

All their pale petals shed,

Wan wraiths of Summer sped,

In Autumn's closes;

Crimson and cream and gold

Strewn on earth's bosom cold,

Mingling with umber mold —

Ashes of roses.

See, in yon waning West

Rich roses blowing

On Heaven's palimpsest

God's message glowing;

Rose hues and amethyst

Drenched in purpureate mist,

Darkness with Day keeps tryst,

Night's curtain closes;

Quenched is the burning gold,

Shadowed the upland wold,

Day's fires grow dull and cold

Ashes of roses.

So on this heart of mine

Shadows are lying;

Lotus and rue entwine,

Dim dreams are dying;

Stilled is the thrill divine,

Spilled is the amber wine,

Dimly the cold stars shine;

Wan age discloses

All youth's bright blossoms dead,

All love's rare radiance sped,

All hope's pure petals shed —

Ashes of roses.