Roses ruddy and roses white,
    What are the joys that my heart discloses?
Sitting alone in the fading light
Memories come to me here to-night
    With the wonderful scent of the big red roses.

Memories come as the daylight fades
    Down on the hearth where the firelight dozes;
Flicker and flutter the lights and shades,
And I see the face of a queen of maids
    Whose memory comes with the scent of roses.

Visions arise of a scene of mirth,
    And a ballroom belle that superbly poses -
A queenly woman of queenly worth,
And I am the happiest man on earth
    With a single flower from a bunch of roses.

Only her memory lives tonight -
    God in His wisdom her young life closes;
Over her grave may the turf be light,
Cover her coffin with roses white -
    She was always fond of the big white roses.