Photo by kilarov zaneit on Unsplash edited by me

Once in a dream (for once I dreamed of you) 
    We stood together in an open field; 
    Above our heads two swift-winged pigeons wheeled,  
Sporting at east and courting full in view:—
When loftier still a broadening darkness flew,  
    Down-swooping, and a ravenous hawk revealed; 
    Too weak to fight, too fond to fly, they yield; 
So farewell life and love and pleasures new.  
Then as their plumes fell fluttering to the ground,  
    Their snow-white plumage flecked with crimson drops,  
        I wept, and thought I turned towards you to weep: 
    But you were gone; while rustling hedgerow tops  
Bent in a wind which bore to me a sound 
        Of far-off piteous bleat of lambs and sheep.
 

Christina Rossetti (1830 – 1894) was one of the most important poets of the Victorian age in England.

To read more poems, click here.

A rose has thorns as well as honey, 
I’ll not have her for love or money; 
An iris grows so straight and fine, 
That she shall be no friend of mine; 
Snowdrops like the snow would chill me; 
Nightshade would caress and kill me; 
Crocus like a spear would fright me; 
Dragon’s-mouth might bark or bite me; 
Convolvulus but blooms to die; 
A wind-flower suggests a sigh; 
Love-lies-bleeding makes me sad; 
And poppy-juice would drive me mad:— 
But give me holly, bold and jolly, 
Honest, prickly, shining holly; 
Pluck me holly leaf and berry 
For the day when I make merry.

Christina Rossetti (1830 – 1894) was one of the most important poets of the Victorian age in England.

To read more poems, click here.