A poem by Thomas Moore, which was set to music recently and recorded by Charlotte Church. Moore wrote the poem while at Jenkinstown Park in County Kilkenny, Ireland, and it was published in a collection of Moore's work called Irish Melodies (1807-34)

The Last Rose of Summer

Tis the last rose of summer,

Left blooming alone,

All her lovely companions

Are faded and gone.

No flow'r of her kindred

No rosebud is nigh

To reflect back her blushes,

Or give sigh for sigh.

I'll not leave thee, thou lone one,

To pine on the stern,

Since the lovely are sleeping,

Go, sleep thou with them

Thus kindly I'll scatter

Thy leaves o'er the bed,

Where thy mates of the garden

Lie scentless and dead.

So soon may I follow

When friendships decay;

And from love's shining circle

The gems drop away

When true hearts lie wither'd

And fond ones are flow'n

Oh! Who would inhabit

This bleak world alone?