Black Prince Rose

"I saw pale kings and princes too, 

    Pale warriors, death-pale were they all; 

They cried—'La Belle Dame sans Merci 

    Thee hath in thrall!' "

~~ John Keats, "La Belle Dame sans Merci: A Ballad", published 1819

~~~~~~

My love was like a Black Prince rose;
Dark lights darted from his eye.
He thrilled my heart and filled my limbs
With strange ecstasy.

He sang to me in a tongue unknown,
All silvery, his voice and tone;
When he held me close in his arms,
My restraints were gone.

Silken fingers ran through my hair,
Soft whispers wove a spell;
He sealed my eyes to sleep each night
With kisses magical. 

One night I woke, with a burning thirst;
Oh! dark night filled with woe!
My Black Prince rose had wilted -
Dried up forever more.

Pain and thorns are all that's left,
Love's dark face revealed;
The music fled - my heart, it bled
Never to be healed.