The Last Rose of Summer

While staying at my elderly neighbor's house,
the last few weeks of my teaching year, I
played the sweetest song from an old yellowed
book- The Last Rose of Summer-
poem Thomas Moore
arranged by F. Henri Klickmann
In an opera by Von Flotow
Sung not that long ago by Charlotte Church

'Tis the last rose of summer
Left blooming alone
All her lovely compassions
To pine on the stem.
No flower of her kindred
No rosebud is nigh
To reflect back her blushes
Or give sigh for sigh

I'll not leave thee, thou lone one!
To pine on the stem;
Since the lovely are sleeping,
Go, sleep thou with them.
Thus kindly I scatter,
Thy leaves o'er the bed,
Where thy mates of the garden
Lie scentless and dead.

So soon may I follow,
When friendships decay,
From Love's shining circle
The gems drop away.
When true hearts lie withered
And fond ones are flown,
Oh! who would inhabit,
This bleak world alone?


I love it so much I thought
I would write new lyrics to it...

Lord I ever want most to please Thee
Doing as Thou wouldst have me do
Through the day and again at evening
I speak through Thee to God anew

Help me walk as one that's righteous
Help me be the Saint that I should be
Of what Thou commands help me to trust
I am yearning for light to see

I have read inside the scriptures
Of Thy suffering for all mankind
And I seek for this love sweet and pure
In both my heart and in my mind

Help me live as one with meekness
Help me feel repentant when I sin
Though I try, I am prone to weakness
Thus I'm thankful- this Thou didst win!

May my heart ever be found contrite
Humble to submit unto thy will
May I have sufficient oil to light
Lonely paths where I've works to fulfill

For I know thou walks by my side
Waiting patiently with love to show
May I have thy spirit inside
And bear thy name where e'er I go

straight as a poem
variation

Lord I ever want to please Thee
Do as Thou wouldst have me do
In the morn and in the evening
I speak through Thee to God anew

Help me walk as one that's righteous
Be the Saint that I should be
When Thou command help me to trust
I yearn for light to see

I have read inside the scriptures
Of Thy suffering for mankind
And I seek for this love that is pure
In both my heart and mind

Help me live as one with meekness
Feel repentant when I sin
Though I try, I’m prone to weakness
Thus I'm thankful- this Thou didst win!