| Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). A Victorian Anthology, 1837–1895. 1895. |
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| The Rosy Musk-Mallow |
| | | Alice E. Gillington |
| | | | | Romany Love-Song |
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| THE ROSY musk-mallow blooms where the south wind blows, | |
| O my gypsy rose! | |
| In the deep dark lanes where thou and I must meet; | |
| So sweet! | |
| Before the harvest moon’s gold glints over the down, | 5 |
| Or the brown-sailed trawler returns to the gray sea-town, | |
| The rosy musk-mallow sways, and the south wind’s laughter | |
| Follows our footsteps after! | |
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| The rosy musk-mallow blooms by the moor-brook’s flow, | |
| So daintily O! | 10 |
| Where thou and I in the silence of night must pass, | |
| My lass! | |
| Over the stream with its ripple of song, to-night, | |
| We will fly, we will run together, my heart’s delight! | |
| The rosy musk-mallow sways, and the moor-brook’s laughter | 15 |
| Follows our footsteps after! | |
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| The rosy musk-mallow blooms within sound of the sea; | |
| It curtseys to thee, | |
| O my gypsy-queen, it curtseys adown to thy feet; | |
| So sweet! | 20 |
| When dead leaves drift through the dusk of the autumn day, | |
| And the red elf-lanthorns hang from the spindle-spray, | |
| The rosy musk-mallow sways, and the sea ’s wild laughter | |
| Follows our footsteps after! | |
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| The rosy musk-mallow blooms where the dim wood sleeps, | 25 |
| And the bind-weed creeps; | |
| Through tangled wood-paths unknown we must take our flight, | |
| To-night! | |
| As the pale hedge-lilies around the dark elder wind, | |
| Clasp thy white arms about me, nor look behind. | 30 |
| The rosy musk-mallow is closed, and the soft leaves’ laughter | |
| Follows our footsteps after! | |
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