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Crawford, Isabella Valancy (1850-1887)
Roses In Madrid
ROSES, Senors, roses!
  Love is subtly hid
In the fragrant roses,
  Blown in gay Madrid.
Roses, Senors, roses!
  Look, look, look, and see
Love hanging in the roses
  Like a golden bee!
Ha! ha! shake the roses--
  Hold a palm below;
Shake him from the roses,
  Catch the vagrant--so!

High I toss the roses
  From my brown palm up,
Like the wine that bubbles
  From a golden cup.
Catch the roses, Senors,
  Light on finger-tips;
He who buys red roses
  Dreams of crimson lips.
Tinkle my fresh roses,
  With the rare dew wet;
Clink my crisp, red roses
  Like a castanet.

Roses, Senors, roses!
  Come, Hidalgo, buy!
Proudly wait my roses
  For thy Rose's eye.
Be thy Rose as stately
  As a pacing deer,
Worthy are my roses
  To burn behind her ear.
Ha! ha! I can see thee,
  Where the fountains foam,
Twining my red roses
  In her golden comb!

Roses, Donnas, roses!
  None so fresh as mine,
Plucked at rose or morning
  By our Lady's shrine.
Those that first I gathered
  Laid I at her feet,
That is why my roses
  Still are fresh and sweet.
Roses, Donnas, roses,
  Roses waxen fair!
Acolytes my roses,
  'Censing ladies' prayer!

Roses, roses, roses!
  Hear the tawny bull
Thund'ring in the circus --
  Buy your arms full.
Roses by the dozen!
  Roses by the score!
Pelt the victor with them --
  Bull or tereador!
Public Domain