The First Rose of Summer

“Oh, dear! is summer over?”
I heard a rosebud moan,
When first her eyes she opened,
And found she was alone.

“Oh, why did summer leave me,
Little me, belated?
Where are the other roses?
I think they might have waited!”

Soon the little rosebud
Saw to her surprise
Other roses opening,
So she dried her eyes.

Then I heard her laughing
Gaily in the sun,
“I thought the summer over;
Why, it’s only just begun!”