A Song Of Clematis

Purple and green the clematis
Leans down my lady's mouth to kiss.
Purple and green: we mourn a king
With purple for deep sorrowing.
Is Love then dead, that long has been
A king enthroned our hearts between?

Purple for grief: but Hope has been
For ever garlanded in green.
Then sing of green, and purple bring
For state and not for sorrowing.
Purple and green the clematis
Kisses where a king might kiss.

By Ethel Clifford, 1903