WHAT ARE ROSES FOR ANYWAY?

HERE I SIT...A LONE VALENTINE,

DREAMING OF ROSES, AND CHOCOLATES, AND WINE,

DREAMING OF CANDLELIGHT, MUSIC, ROMANCE,

DREAMING OF YOU...AND OF OUR FIRST DANCE.

I REMEMBER THE ROSE AND THE POEM THAT I GAVE,

WE'RE TWO HALVES OF A WHOLE...NOT MASTER AND SLAVE,

I REMEMBER OUR RINGS & DREAM OUR WEDDING DAY,

BUT WHAT ARE ROSES FOR ANYWAY?

TO ME THESE SCARLET STAINED PETALS OF TRUTH,

ARE GOTHIC REMINDERS OF WHAT WE LEARN IN OUR YOUTH,

THAT LIFE IS A FRAGILE GIFT FROM ABOVE,

TRUTH ISN'T EASY...AND NEITHER IS LOVE.

BUT WHEN LIFE REARS A BLOODTHIRSTY THORN TOWARD YOUR HEART,

REMEMBER WHAT THE ROSE HAS KNOWN FROM THE START,

THAT WHEN YOUR BLOSSOM OF LOVE SEEMS TOO HARD TO ATTAIN,

LAUGHTER AND HOPE ARE LIKE SUNSHINE AND RAIN.

SO WHEN I SEE THE DELICATE AND FRAGRANT RED ROSE,

I BREATHE IN IT'S KNOWLEDGE...I CONSUME WHAT IT KNOWS,

THEN I GIVE IT TO SOMEONE WHO COULD USE A SURPRISE,

TO LIGHTEN THEIR SPIRITS AND TO OPEN THEIR EYES.

AND SO FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY I WILL GIVE YOU THIS ROSE,

A METAPHOR FOR LIFE; MAY YOURS BLOOM AS IT GROWS,

AND MAY THIS GIFT SERVE TO STRENGTHEN OUR LOVE AND RAPPORT,

BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT FRIENDS...AND WHAT ROSES ARE FOR.

© FEBRUARY 14 1995 By Jason Wright