Roses' Song

My sons, my sisters, bear white roses,

I gave them flowers for family true.

My friends, my swordmates, wear blue roses,

Of hard-won trust in honoured hue.

My Earl, his banners, hold orange roses,

Signs of Dawn’s own brilliant dream.

Senators proud in purple roses,

Prove us Empire’s high esteem.

The troubadours sport yellow roses,

Recalling Virtue 's calling strong.

My warmest memories, pink with roses,

Of happiness remembered long.

My heroes all have lilac roses

Of hard-won admiration 's due.

My harshest rivals flaunt green roses,

Showing lies and hate anew.

My dead, my unborn, bind black roses

As Labyrinth is paced again.

With gold and silver we make posies

Bought in coin, or bright acclaim.

As they march forth onto the battle,

The brightest flowers of Astolat

Walk singing onward to the harvest;

And few of them are coming back.

The blooms are cut down in the fields;

Painted are the roses wore they –

Crimson, sanguined – all are brilliant

With the passionate red of glory.