"The White Rose" and Answer,
by Rosa Vertner Jeffrey, Lexington, KY

"The White Rose."

If thys fayre rose offend thye sighte -
    Placed inne thy bosomme bare,
'Twylle blush to finde itself less whyte
    And turne Lancastrynne there.

But iff thye rubye lipps it spye
    As kiss it thou may'st deigne,
With envye pale 'twylle lose its dye
    And Yorkysh turne againe.

ANSWER TO "THE WHITE ROSE."

Yes - I will wear thy Yorkish rose,
    And-if it blush - 'twill be
Because the heart beneath it glows
    To think it came from thee.

Yes, I will wear it on my breast,
    And I will kiss it too -
Because it waves upon thy crest
    And not to change its hue.

Yet do I break no loyal vow
    To wear this gift of thine,
The red rose still shall wreathe my brow,
    The white my heart entwine.