Author: Madison Julius Cawein

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    The old gate clicks, and down the walk,
    Between clove-pink and hollyhock,
    Still young of face though gray of lock,
    Among her garden's flowers she goes
    At evening's close,
    Deep in her hair a yellow rose.

    The old house shows one gable-peak
    Above its trees; and sage and leek
    Blend with the rose their scents: the creek,
    Leaf-hidden, past the garden flows,
    That on it snows
    Pale petals of the yellow rose.

    The crickets pipe in dewy damps;
    And everywhere the fireflies' lamps
    Flame like the lights of Faery camps;
    While, overhead, the soft sky shows
    One star that glows,
    As, in gray hair, a yellow rose.

    There is one spot she seeks for, where
    The roses make a fragrant lair,
    A spot where once he kissed her hair,
    And told his love, as each one knows,
    Each flower that blows,
    And pledged it with a yellow rose.

    The years have turned her dark hair gray
    Since that glad day: and still, they say,
    She keeps the tryst as on that day;
    And through the garden softly goes,
    At evening's close,
    Wearing for him that yellow rose.

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Type of Poem: Lyric Poem

Date Written:

Date Published:

Language: English

Keywords: Public Domain

Source: Public Domain Collection

Publisher:

Rights/Permissions: Public Domain

Comments/Notes: This poem is a tender exploration of themes such as love, memory, and the passage of time, beautifully captured through the recurring image of the yellow rose. The narrative follows an older woman reminiscing about a past love, symbolized by the yellow rose she wears in her hair. The vivid imagery of the garden and its flowers, the old house, and the evening's close, create a peaceful, almost nostalgic atmosphere, which contrasts with the aching poignancy of the woman's enduring love and loyalty.

The poem's structure is quite traditional, employing a consistent rhyme scheme and meter that add to its overall sense of tranquility and steadiness. Key literary devices include the use of personification, such as the crickets 'piping' and fireflies' lamps 'flaming,' which bring the garden to life as a character in its own right. The rose, too, is personified, its yellow hue reflecting not only the woman's age (as in 'gray of lock') but also the warmth and constancy of her love. Other notable elements include the poet's use of repetition and strategic line breaks, which underscore the importance of the yellow rose and lend a rhythmic, almost song-like quality to the verses. In essence, this poem is a moving portrait of enduring love, captured in a moment of solitude against the backdrop of nature's quiet beauty.