Defence of Guenevere and Other Poems — Two Red Roses across the Moon

There was a lady lived in a hall, Large of her eyes, and slim and tall;

And ever she sung from noon to noon, _Two red roses across the moon.

_ There was a knight came riding by In early spring, when the roads were dry;

And he heard that lady sing at the noon, _Two red roses across the moon.

_ Yet none the more he stopp'd at all, But he rode a-gallop past the hall;

And left that lady singing at noon, _Two red roses across the moon.

_ Because, forsooth, the battle was set, And the scarlet and blue had got to be met, He rode on the spur till the next warm noon: _Two red roses across the moon.

_ But the battle was scatter'd from hill to hill, From the windmill to the watermill;

And he said to himself, as it near'd the noon, _Two red roses across the moon.

_ You scarce could see for the scarlet and blue, A golden helm or a golden shoe: So he cried, as the fight grew thick at the noon, _Two red roses across the moon!

_ Verily then the gold bore through The huddled spears of the scarlet and blue;

And they cried, as they cut them down at the noon, _Two red roses across the moon!

_ I trow he stopp'd when he rode again By the hall, though draggled sore with the rain;

And his lips were pinch'd to kiss at the noon _Two red roses across the moon.

_ Under the may she stoop'd to the crown, All was gold, there was nothing of brown;

And the horns blew up in the hall at noon, _Two red roses across the moon.

_ WELLAND RIVER