Poem by James Weldon Johnson

Venus in a Garden

'Twas at early morning,
The dawn was blushing in her purple bed,
When in a sweet, embowered garden
She, the fairest of the goddesses,
The lovely Venus,
Roamed amongst the roses white and red.
She sought for flowers
To make a garland
For her golden head.

Snow-white roses, blood-red roses,
In that sweet garden close,
Offered incense to the goddess:
Both the white and the crimson rose.

White roses, red roses, blossoming:
But the fair Venus knew
The crimson roses had gained their hue
From the hearts that for love had bled;
And the goddess made a garland
Gathered from the roses red.

1. The Color Sergeant
2. Answer to Prayer
3. Down by the Carib Sea. 1. Sunrise in the Tropics
4. Down by the Carib Sea. 6. Sunset in the Tropics
5. Down by the Carib Sea. 4. The Lottery Girl

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