"Where the wild roses grow"

By Alice Dalla Stella

On 8 May 2008

Favorited 5 Times

"Where the wild roses grow"

"They call me The Wild Rose
But my name was Elisa Day
Why they call me it I do not know
For my name was Elisa Day

From the first day I saw her I knew she was the one
She stared in my eyes and smiled
For her lips were the colour of the roses
That grew down the river, all bloody and wild

When he knocked on my door and entered the room
My trembling subsided in his sure embrace
He would be my first man, and with a careful hand
He wiped at the tears that ran down my face

On the second day I brought her a flower
She was more beautiful than any woman I'd seen
I said, "Do you know where the wild roses grow
So sweet and scarlet and free?"

On the second day he came with a single red rose
Said: "Will you give me your loss and your sorrow"
I nodded my head, as I lay on the bed
He said, "If I show you the roses, will you follow?"

On the third day he took me to the river
He showed me the roses and we kissed
And the last thing I heard was a muttered word
As he knelt (stood smiling) above me with a rock in
his fist

On the last day I took her where the wild roses grow
And she lay on the bank, the wind light as a thief
And I kissed her goodbye, said, "All beauty must die"
And lent down and planted a rose between her teeth"
("where the wild roses grow" Nick Cave)

3 Responses

  • eva monbert

    On 8 May 2008 eva monbert gave props:

    beautiful poem, perfect with the picture, nice shot

  • On 9 May 2008 Laura said:

    Le rose hanno un fascino inesauribile, sono delle "signore" tra i fiori e ammetto un debole per loro anche se sono più simile ai tulipani come persona, forse perché sono nata nel loro mese...
    True, the song is sad, but is marvellous. It reminds me of the Late Medieval Scottish (and English and Irish) Ballads...and also of Keats "La Belle Dame Sans Mercy"... Here the victim is the lady and not the knight, bu we can find some similarities as in the anciant Ballads... "Where have you been Lord Randall my son?...". Lord Randall is one one the most wide spread Ballads in Europe:in different languages! Why did his true love kill him? It is a theme which has been often used... "Evil" has no reasons to exist, anyway. Beautiful photo! Thank you Alice!
    Love,
    Laura

  • John Elias

    On 9 May 2008 John Elias gave props:

    Grazie, Alice, for this beautiful present you've posted 4 us! Beautiful poem.

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