Three Roses

My knight had to go far away –
His lord had declared a war.
He told me: “I wish I could stay!..
I’ll bring you all the gems of the world”.

I answered: “They’re nothing for me,
You’re the only treasure I need!
I would like to get if I could
A white rose if everything’s good.

And if you get wounded, I want
A red rose for me to be brought.
And if yellow flower is sent,
It means that you’re already dead”.

He left and I waited at home.
A month passed, than his man arrived
And brought me a precious stone
And a rose that was white as a dove.

The second month passed, and I saw
That servant again. And I got
An emerald with shiny glow
And a flower as scarlet as blood.

I waited and worried and prayed,
But as the month passed, no one came.
But than I met people who said
They saw what had happened that day:

My knight’s man was riding to me,
Was hurrying to tell me some news,
But road was too narrow and steep,
And so he fell into abyss.

 That’s why I was never to see
The gift, though I was eager to.
What rose was he carrying for me?
I wish I knew, oh I wish I knew…