A rose has thorns as well as honey, <br />I'll not have her for love or money; <br />An iris grows so straight and fine, <br />That she shall be no friend of mine; <br />Snowdrops like the snow would chill me; <br />Nightshade would caress and kill me; <br />Crocus like a spear would fright me; <br />Dragon's-mouth might bark or bite me; <br />Convolvulus but blooms to die; <br />A wind-flower suggests a sigh; <br />Love-lies-bleeding makes me sad; <br />And poppy-juice would drive me mad: - <br />But give me holly, bold and jolly, <br />Honest, prickly, shining holly; <br />Pluck me holly leaf and berry <br />For the day when I make merry.<br /><br />Christina Georgina Rossetti<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/a-rose-has-thorns-as-well-as-honey/
