Anonymous Rose

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True Story.

Anonymous Rose

As a mid-teenager innocently experimenting and soaked from a bottle

My best mate and I were drunk as two skunks he a bit less than I

We had not managed the golden mean of balance as proposed by Aristotle

Swerving and falling he got me home though after straight Vodka oversupply


He left my bicycle chained to the bench we had used attempting to get sober

The bike with banana saddle and Harley type handle bars resting on wood

Stood tall for a night while I had grazed knees and a massive hangover

I promised myself on recovery I’d never touch drink again for my own good


When vomit and headache receded I went to rescue my two wheeling friend

Fearful someone might have taken advantage of my delirious nonsense

Maybe stolen or vandalized to the point that it also was not quite on the mend

Me still smelling of booze there was a red rose on the saddle fragrant intense


This is true was no post alcohol poisoned hallucination no whim of my eyes

The flower sported scratchy thorns of poignant meaning and a beautiful shine

But from whence had it come who was it who gave me that poignant surprise

A mysterious donor an angel some prophet or a secret admirer of mine


Fourty years later I still do not know who gave me that meaningful gift 

Never actually tried to find out felt embarrassed could thank no one in person

And sometimes still wonder had I found out had my life taken a different drift

Than decades to appreciate sober living rather than in liquor’s immersion


Written for the contest 'Anonymous Angel'              04th April 2018

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Jennifer Proxenos

Date: 9/23/2018 12:21:00 PM

Good evening Kai, You are a very deep thinker and I think there is a philosopher in you also. Great write! Regards, Jennifer (P)

Kai Michael Neumann
Date: 9/26/2018 2:15:00 AM

Thank you Jennifer. I gave up drink ten years ago, but I still appreciate the rose...

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 4/5/2018 5:57:00 PM

Kai, that is a lovely and well told story. There is another possibility. Someone may have just laid it there as a surprise not knowing who you were or whose bicycle they were laying it on, I recall doing a similar act one time, not a flower but something nice. I just laid it down for someone to find!

Kai Michael Neumann
Date: 4/6/2018 5:31:00 AM

Absolutely true. And it is nice that I will never know. Take good care, Kai