When I found him by the railway he was dying

Somehow he’d fallen from the car he’d rode

I tried to help but he died while I was trying

His final words were, “Give My Love To Rose”,

Give my love to Rose he kept on pleading

Time and time again, then closed his eyes

He gave me all his money and her picture

And I vowed to him and God that I would try,

I climbed aboard a train for Louisiana

I paid my fare and found myself a seat

I didn’t know a soul in Louisiana

But I figured I had promises to keep,

I said I’d give his love to Rose if I should see her

I’d give her all his money, tell her buy some pretty clothes

I’d tell his boy his Daddy was so proud of him

Yes I promised I would give his love to Rose,

Well the train pulled in at noon and I alighted

It was as prettier town as any I suppose

I found a hotel room and then got started

To try to find this mans beloved Rose,

I started my inquiries at the tavern

But it seems that’s not the kind of place she goes

Though everyone I spoke to knew about her

And each of them had a kindly word for Rose,

And they’d say, give our love to Rose when you should see her

Say hi to her son Billy, my how that one has grown

Say we’ll see her at the church on Sunday

Now don’t forget to give our love to Rose,

Well I finally found her working in a book store

And recognized her from her photograph

A pleasant looking woman, about thirty

Who’s face lit up each time that she should laugh,

And the cause of her amusement was a young man,

Who couldn’t be much more than twelve, I S‘pose

So I waited till the store was all but closing

Then softly said, “ Excuse me, are you Rose?”

She said she was and patiently stood waiting

For me to purchase something or depart

It must have seemed to her like half the morning

So reluctant was I to break their hearts,

But give my love to Rose, kept coming to me

Time and time again that’s all I heard

Give my love to Rose please won’t you mister

Till finally my courage found the words,

I gave her all his money and her picture

My condolences then turned around to leave

But just as I was going I felt something

Very gently tugging at my sleeve,

I turned to find the young man weeping freely

Grieving for the man he’d never known

It broke my heart to see them there together

I can’t forget the day; I gave his love to Rose.

By S.E.Ralph

22-1-2012