The second of two wonderful poems found inside this daguerreotype case. Who is Rosa and when did she die? Indeed did she die? Could she be the girl depicted in the image? Who is the 'M' wrote this? [Edit: it has now been discovered that both poems are based on existing published poems. What is especially interesting about this one though is which lines have been altered. It is possible that Rosa hadn't died, she may simply be going away - see comments below]

What we do know is that it is beautifully written, in the tiniest of handwriting, and is on the reverse of a small business card from East Saginaw, Michigan. Are there enough clues to start to piece together this mystery?

So is Rosa the girl in the photograph? I have a hunch it might be as something is instinctively telling me that this was written somewhat later than the image was taken, perhaps in the mid-1860s, with the image being ca 1850. But that's just a hunch, and I'd love some evidence to back that up!

One further thing that strikes me when you compare the two poems is that this one is more raw and perhaps poetically less polished, but at the same time the immediacy of her death and the grief of the writer are there for everyone to see.

Rosa Darling

You are going far away, Rosa, Darling, And thy smile I may never more behold! They may tell thee I am false, Rosa, Darling, Or my true love for thee has grown cold! Oh, they know not the loving Of a heart warm and true as the sun; When a heart like to thine Rosa, Darling Is the goal to the race that I[?] run; Oh, hear me, sweet Rosa, For the wild flow'rs greet me, Rosa, Darling. And the love-birds are singing on each tree; Shouldst thou never more see me, Rosa, Darling. Believe, love I'm waiting for thee.

Without thy sweet face, Rosa, Darling! This world would be a blank world to me! Oh, do'st thou hear my wailing, Rosa, Darling, Or think love I'm sighing for thee; Oh, methinks the stars are weeping, By their soft and lambent light, And thy heart should be melting, Rosa, Darling, With pity for thy lover this night, Oh listen, Sweet Rosa, For the wild flowers are sleeping, Rosa, Darling, And the love-birds are nesting in each tree; Should years pass before I see thee, Rosa, Darling, Be sure, love I'll prove true to thee!

And when far away from here, Rosa, Darling! I'll pray that thy spirit be my guide; And that when my life be spent, Rosa, Darling, They will lay me down to rest by thy side; Oh Rosa, dear I'm hoping, That better days are nigh, And I'll ever be dreaming Rosa, Darling, Of thy love every day til I die; Farewell then, sweet Rosa! For the wild flowers will blossom, Rosa, Darling, And the love-birds will warble on each tree; Soon again I hope to meet thee, Rosa, Darling, Till then love, be constant to me! M

For the original daguerreotype image and story see the full set