THE ROSE

"A rose is a rose is a rose"
"O Rose! Thou art sick!"
"A rose by any other name..."
"The Wars of the Roses"..
Roses are not @war,yet they are used -
as brand names for Cadbury chocolates
and epic disputes between Yorkshire and Lancashire
Thorns too have their Bibical references-
Crown of Thorns(added to Coral Reef Starfish-
Holy Thorns(as if from the original)/
while varieties of white and red roses
denote both sex and spirituality
Historic as these images may be-
every rose blooms seasonally and innocent
Lady Loyalty may deign to give White Roses to Knights
who did not pillage or rape-but that was in the 14th Century
Now no flower can prevent buds and blossoms being stolen
The gifting of red roses remains as a sign of affection
Antique roses adorn selected gardens
Mexican roses cross border guards with impunity
Roses still have power-petal by petal
they mean more than mere virginity.Dreams and stories
are projected upon each gifted stem/thorns or not
a lot is placed upon this ancient species/we
evoke The Name Of The Rose
often without regard -for its true content...