 A SHEEF OF ROSES by Elizabeth Gordon, read for LibriVox.org by Bruce Gachok. DEDICATION This book is dedicated to all kindred spirits who love the beautiful in nature, and is especially inscribed to my loyal friends of the Pacific Coast. ELISABETH GORDON END OF DEDICATION This recording is in the public domain. Poems 1-8 of A SHEEF OF ROSES by Elizabeth Gordon, read for LibriVox.org. A SHEEF OF ROSES The rose was born of lover's size, of lover's tears and sobs, and deep within its glowing heart, the heart of true love throbs, each rose that blooms, an emblem is, of love divine and true, and I have made a sheaf of them to send with love to you. A BUNCH OF ROSES Better than gifts of gleaming gold or houses made by hands, more precious than the glowing gems men seek in distant lands, breathing of love and purity, of constant hearts and true, a bunch of roses, God's own gift, all wet with heaven's dew. WHITE CHERIQUY An angel on her way to heaven, one perfumed starlit night, remembered one she'd left behind and pausing in her flight, looked back to earth and shed a tear, for love left all forlorn, behold, where fell that pearly drop a pure white rose was born. CESSAL BRUNER Two men there were in olden days who loved each other well, to each man was the same fair maid, dearer than words could tell. One kissed her hand and rode away, his heart with sorrow fraught. Around that cottage threshold grew the rose called Friendly Thought. FROW KARDRUSKI A mother heard the war-god call, her well-loved firstborn's name, with lips that smiled, but heart that bled, she heard his dream of fame. She pinned the colors on his breast and watched him march away. The rose they call, the mother's prayer, blossomed that faithful day. WHITE BANXIA FROW KARDRUSKI One journeyed to a foreign land to teach the love of God, the thorns of ignorance and strife beset the path he trod. His prayer for faith and strength went up to him who hears all woes. An answering sign to him was sent, the sweet white bangsia rose. ROSE OF OLD CASTLE A proud Castilian beauty left her home in sunny Spain and went with him who held her heart a fairer home to gain. To strange new lands the good ship sailed and where she touched her keel there grew in token of young love the rose of old Castile. SAFRANO A Spanish maid of high degree lived in her patio, suitors she had, but none could touch the maid's pure heart of snow. There came a gallant from the wars who'd vanquished all his foes. He won her heart and from her blush grew the safrano rose. End of poems one to eight. This recording is in the public domain. Poems nine to seventeen of A Sheaf of Roses by Elizabeth Gordon. Read for LibriVox.org. PINK CHERIQUY A tender yearning mother soul whose life had never known, the blessing of a baby's heart beating against her own, found Rosie smiling at her door, a babe of mystery. There bloomed the rose of mother love, the rare Pink Cheriqui. JOKMANO A boy and girl from infancy, playmates, good comrades too, walked hand in hand one summer day, a rare old garden through. A meadowlark full-throated sang his love song to the mourn. The crimson Jokmano grew there for their new love was born. GOLD OF OFER A dark-eyed Indian princess was wooed, so legends say, by a brave and gallant soldier who loved and rode away. Under the shadow of the hills capped by eternal snows, she sleeps and wrapped and sheltered by the Gold of Ofer Rose. RAGGARD ROBIN A dusky baby came to share a gypsy's caravan. The dark-eyed mother loved the child as only mothers can. She laid him amongst the grasses where the south wind softly blows. Love's angel sent to mark the spot the ragged Robin Rose. KILLARNEY A bonny Irish lassie followed her sweetheart true to distant shores where homesick tears bedimmed her eyes of blue. The little people heard her plaint and pitying her woes. They planted as a sweet surprise the pink Killarney Rose. MARIE VON HOUTER Upon a cactus-covered hill facing the ocean blue, a shining cross was raised aloft by one whose heart was true. The seeds of faith he scattered where, the western sunset glows, took root and grew and blossomed in the crucifixion rose. American Beauty Where great ambitions swirl around a teeming toiling mart, a grey-haired gardener worked and hoped Love's fair dream in his heart, the vision bright he cherished till with velvet leaves uncurled. A perfect rose rewarded him, Love's gift to all the world. THE RAINBOW ROSE The rainbow on a summer day glowing against the sky was filled with pity as it heard a hapless lover's sigh, a shower of sympathy it sent to compass him around, where fell those drops of kindly balm the rainbow rose was found. SWEET BRYER ROSE Some love the spot where lilies fling their subtly sweet perfume. Some love the lingerie's lotus width its oriental bloom, but drifting downward through the years my loyal memory goes to where my childhood's treasure lives, the wild sweet bryer rose. End of poems 9 to 17. This recording is in the public domain. End of A Sheaf of Roses by Elizabeth Gordon