The Cardinal and the Rose
The Cardinal, who loved a Rose
appeared to woo her one spring morn
but came too near a hidden thorn,
so eager she should hear his prose
He lit to sing but quick arose,
blood slick upon the wing he'd torn
She may as well have pierced his heart,
yet being a tenacious bird,
the Cardinal was not deterred
from love of his fierce counterpart
Though still he bled, he did impart
his song and once the Rose had heard,
he flew, unsteady, to the eave
lay down his head and took his leave
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