A Rose Each Year

He brought her a rose for her birthday
And some kisses and some chocolates
She was happy and kissed him back
And took the rose and smelled its perfume
He took her for a walk in a beautiful garden
And by a fountain they sat together
He got down upon one knee and proposed marriage
And she accepted with delight
The ring upon her finger a satin gold
And the light in her eye, as a star
For love blossomed true and deep

Marriage took place upon a year later
After a 12 month engagement
He wore a burgundy suit and tie
And watched her walk down the isle
Her face glowed with love
And her dress was white as snow
Pure and lovely as she was
And he took her hand in his strong one
Dainty and pretty and held it
The priest married them both in matrimony
And he kissed her softly

He brought her breakfast in bed
It had been one year and now
Alfred their baby son was born
She was tired and didn't know
He'd brought her a rose
And didn't know he'd sung a lullaby
She slept as he stroked her face
And breathed softly as he touched her
And she never felt his touch
Or heard him whisper to her
As he kissed her gently

He stood by her graveside
One year on
A small child beside him
Crying in his pram
He knelt by the tombstone
And placed a single rose there
It was not raining
But the rose petal held one droplet
That fell from his eye
He wiped quickly the rest of them
And whispered with a shaking breath
"I will always love you"

The housekeeper returned from shopping
Exactly one year on it was
And the house was far too silent
And upstairs there was only
The banging sound of a window
That had been left unlatched
The little boy sat on the stairs
Looking glum and quiet
Upon entering the bedroom
She spied the master upon the bed
A single rose in his hand
And a photograph of her
When she smiled and laughed
Upon their wedding day

She picked up the child and hid his eyes
From the sight of where his father died