"A White Rose"

By John Boyle O'Reilly (1844-1890)

The red rose whispers of passion
     And the white rose breathes of love;
Oh, the red rose is a falcon,
     And the white rose is a dove.

But I send you a cream-white rosebud,
     With a flush on its petal tips;
For the love that is purest and sweetest
     Has a kiss of desire on the lips.