The Last Rose of Summer

by Thomas Moore

The Last Rose of Summer (1805) was one of Moore's most popular songs, inspired by the Rosa "Old Blush" he enjoyed while in County Kilkenny, Ireland. The song was used by Ludwig van Beethoven in two works: No. 6 in "Irish Songs" and No. 4 of "Six Natural Airs with Variations Op. 105."

Tis the last rose of summer,
Left blooming alone;
All her lovely companions
Are faded and gone;
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,
And 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?

The Last Rose of Summer was featured as The Short Story of the Day on Sun, Sep 15, 2024

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Return to the Thomas Moore library , or . . . Read the next poem; The Meeting of the Waters