Ann Marie Browne

A little flower
To us was given,
To bud on earth
But to bloom in Heaven

Near a shady wall a rose once grew,
Budded and blossomed in God's free light,
Watered and fed by the morning dew,
Shedding it's sweetness day and night.

As it grew and blossomed fair and tall,
Slowly rising to lofyier heights,
It came to a crevice in the wall
Through which there shown a beam of light.

Onward it crept with added strength
With never a thought of fear or pride,
It followed the light through the crevice length
And unfolded itself on the other side

The light the dew, the broadening view
Were found the same as they were before
And lost itself in beauties new
Breathing it's fragrance more and more

Shall claim of death cause us to greve
And make our courage faint and fall?
Nay! Let us faith and hope recieve--
The rose still grows beyound the wall,

Scattering fragrance far and wide
Just as it did in days of your,
Just as it did on the other side,
Just as it will forever more.