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I Am a Red Red Rose

I am a red red rose A beauty to behold My texture captivates My scent invigorates Petals, a velvet red Coverings for your bed Leaves an emerald garb That hide the hidden barb Though thorns be on my stem Touch me, ignoring them Please, handle me with care Dethorned, my beauty bare I am a red red rose Your passion for me grows Rose water from me drips * And wets your precious lips I beautify your soul My presence makes you whole I am a red red rose Eileen Manassian Ghali PS...A different take on Robert Burns famous Poem, A Red Red Rose. *By the way, rose water is used in many desserts in Lebanon. One of my favorites, Mouhalabieh, a white custard that is topped with syrup and pistachios, contains rose water. Yummy....Let your mind run riot with that one! :)

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Richard Lamoureux

Date: 4/8/2020 5:05:00 PM

It’s cool that you dream in English. Through your poetry you help other people dream. Hugs Rick

Richard D Seal

Date: 9/11/2013 6:05:00 PM

Have to handle you with care then my little Desert Orchid, mind you I often miss your sharp wit till it's till to late lol. Take care, Richard

Eileen Manassian
Date: 9/12/2013 12:18:00 AM

No need to miss it, Mr Seal, for you are about to get a good dose at the moment. Pardon me for pointing this out, but the term "Desert Orchid" is a term of endearment, is it not? You have been remiss in visits of late, and have not cared to water this orchid with words of affirmation. Perhaps it is good for me to morph into a rose with MANY thorns so that you would take care not to withdraw your kindly comments and visits. YOURS CORDIALLY, PRICKLY

Liam Mcdaid

Date: 9/11/2013 4:23:00 AM

I HANDLE THE WORDS WITH CARE BEAUTIFUL ROSE EXCELLENT PIECE

Eileen Manassian
Date: 9/11/2013 4:32:00 AM

:) Thanks, Liam. So good to have this visit from you, along with the kind words.

Mark Taylor

Date: 9/11/2013 4:09:00 AM

wonderful write, it inspired my attention.

Eileen Manassian
Date: 9/11/2013 4:33:00 AM

I'm glad to know that, Mark. Thanks or the visit...

Eileen Manassian
Date: 9/11/2013 4:33:00 AM

My F key is stuck....GRRRRRRRRRRR

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 9/10/2013 4:18:00 PM

wow, I would love to taste that dessert.I saw PD's blog on your poem. WONDERFUL. Such a beautiful poem.

Eileen Manassian
Date: 9/11/2013 4:35:00 AM

Yes, isn't that blog AWESOME! PD ROCKS! Thanks, Andrea...Haven't had that dessert or a while myself....Hmmmm. Wish I could offer you some. Thanks or the visit and lovely comment.

Debbie Guzzi

Date: 9/10/2013 3:14:00 PM

try the LINK at the top of my blog page! L & L

Eileen Manassian
Date: 9/11/2013 4:35:00 AM

Thanks for the tip, Debbie! :)

Charmaine Chircop

Date: 9/10/2013 2:28:00 PM

Rose water from me drips and wets your precious lips-Sensual and beautiful..Pasionata!

Eileen Manassian
Date: 9/11/2013 4:36:00 AM

Thanks, my sweet. Glad you could stop by!

Nette Onclaud

Date: 9/10/2013 2:07:00 PM

whooot.. a rose blooming amidst thorns or winter is definitely you, eileen... lovely portrait of your soul's essence... :) huggs

Nette Onclaud

Date: 9/10/2013 2:07:00 PM

whooot.. a rose blooming amidst thorns or winter is definitely you, eileen... lovely portrait of your soul's essence... :) huggs

Eileen Manassian
Date: 9/11/2013 4:37:00 AM

Thanks, Nette. I loved taking that title and running wild with it. You are so sweet to read and post. Hugs

Kim Merryman

Date: 9/10/2013 1:40:00 PM

Eileen, I enjoyed reading this beautiful, sultry poem! The imagery is outstanding! Great work! Love, Kim

Eileen Manassian
Date: 9/10/2013 7:22:00 PM

Thanks, ever so much dear Kim....:)

Eileen Manassian

Date: 9/10/2013 1:04:00 PM

TO ALL WHO ARE INTERESTED IN READING THIS: May I also ask you to Check PD's BLOG, "Sorry, I Couldn't Resist!" You will understand once you get there, but please do...You will love it! THANKS LINDA!!!!

Eileen Manassian
Date: 9/10/2013 1:40:00 PM

;) They sure got it right! :)

Poet Destroyer A
Date: 9/10/2013 1:26:00 PM

thank you Eileen, for seeing beauty in all of us.... A rose is nothing but a flower without it's thorns. <<--they say

Poet Destroyer A

Date: 9/10/2013 12:54:00 PM

Hi Eileen, I posted a blog called... """Sorry! I couldn't resist"""... xox..Linda

Eileen Manassian
Date: 9/10/2013 1:07:00 PM

I DON'T HAVE WORDS, LINDA! A rare rare occurrence...If I could, I'd give you a dozen red roses in appreciation...I cannot.. So here are 12 kisses via the net! XO XO XO XO XO XO XO XO XO XO XO XO!!!!!!!!!!!!

Poet Tacito

Date: 9/10/2013 12:53:00 PM

Absolutely wonderful perspective from Robert's poem. Get to cherish the strengths & flaws in order to truly value the heartbeats of one. Now, dessert time!

Eileen Manassian
Date: 9/10/2013 1:21:00 PM

Drake....you and I think alike...Dessert, my favorite part! :) I could never forgo that, could you?

Poet Destroyer A

Date: 9/10/2013 12:17:00 PM

I'm happy to say, That this places has much light, when proven wrong. I carry a poets name many will never understand or even like, but that does not stop them from seeing the beauty that shines above and under my surface. U R a precious lady, and I will handle our friendship with care. PS... My favorite flower is the ROSE. I had a large obsession collecting all kinds of object perfumes body wash & ect.. for a rose Altar I had. LOL, yes an Altar. <--- crazy. xox...Linda

Eileen Manassian
Date: 9/10/2013 1:03:00 PM

I don't know about my "beauty" but I do believe I have some beauty inside! :)

Eileen Manassian
Date: 9/10/2013 12:37:00 PM

I agree with you about this place, Linda. Your name connotes power, my dear. When I first came here, I did wonder about the name, but it has grown on me...You are a Titan here, PD. You know that. You touch so many hearts, so many love you...No one else can carry off that name with the same panache as you do! :) I mean that. I'm glad you love the rose. I only chose the rose because I could play with the title from the other poem, but I can see why it is such a well loved flower! An Alter...how captivating!

Poet Destroyer A
Date: 9/10/2013 12:18:00 PM

Thanks for embracing your beauty in a form of a rose.

Poet Destroyer A

Date: 9/10/2013 12:09:00 PM

I love your poem Eileen, I love seeing the beauty above all surface... But, sometimes some roses, are to black to been seen --nothing but thorns!! Glad poets like you see the beauty in us all. I choose to do what my mom says. "Don't go picking flowers that have no light..." for them roses are bleeding roses. I hope you don't mind me saying that. I once ask my uncle if the bible allows us to stay away from invisible beauty, when family is involve. He' says as a preacher he judges no one, But he won't allow Evil in. -------------continued

Eileen Manassian
Date: 9/10/2013 12:34:00 PM

It is sad that some roses are so full of thorns...I believe there there can't be a rose that has ONLY thorns and no beauty. There is beauty in EVERYONE...even those who appear unlovely. My object here in this poem, ....one of them, for a poetess never discloses ALL, is to point out that THERE ARE THORNS in us ALL...I struggle with depression, and sometimes that makes me a person who is not....shall we say, beautiful...It breaks my heart when people can't see past that to the real me. There is some beauty there...Take the good WITH the bad...Love, unconditionally...

Harry Horsman

Date: 9/10/2013 9:25:00 AM

reading this just wants me to be the Bee, Eileen,

Eileen Manassian
Date: 9/10/2013 12:30:00 PM

Oh Harry, isn't that the sweetest thing! :) Thanks for stopping by here. You are ALWAYS welcome!

Kash Poet

Date: 9/10/2013 9:20:00 AM

lovely write Eileen!Enjoyed the read.Yes rose water is used in many recipes in India also.

Eileen Manassian
Date: 9/10/2013 12:29:00 PM

:) Well, didn't now we had that in common. Thanks ever so much for the visit, Kash. Glad to see you on my page!

Red Fiery

Date: 9/10/2013 8:24:00 AM

Here comes the queen...My dear poetess this is another exceptional write......cheers again !

Eileen Manassian
Date: 9/10/2013 12:28:00 PM

It takes one to know one! You are a romantic poetess as well, Red...a very good one. Glad to see you have started writing again. NEVER let that fire go out...for whatever reason. :)

Richard Lamoureux

Date: 9/10/2013 7:46:00 AM

It does sound yummy as does your poem. The queen of passion emerges once again and is triumphant. I see no thorns only beauty.

Eileen Manassian
Date: 9/10/2013 12:26:00 PM

BTW...I do speak Arabic, because I spent my formative years in Lebanon, but it is not my mother tongue. I am Armenian, and oddly enough, my "mother tongue" is English. We spoke that at home as my parents were from different countries in the Middle East and had no shared language. English is the language I think and dream in. The language of my heart.....

Eileen Manassian
Date: 9/10/2013 12:24:00 PM

ooooopsss, sorry, Richard. I don't know how I manage these mess ups. The Queen of Passion...You gave me that title, I wear it with pride. Thank you for that. Triumphant? Well, perhaps in this write. :) When someone compliments another on beauty, or some virtue we have a saying in Arabic that goes, "YOUR eyes are beautiful." Meaning, "I'm beautiful because you see me this way." Our version of "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. If you see no thorns, that is because your eyes are beautiful, not because I don't have any. Thank you for that.

Eileen Manassian
Date: 9/10/2013 12:19:00 PM

Yes, Becca...This has been something that twists in my heart...in my own life. It is too deep for words, and not something I can explain fully.....Oh well, the post note was an attempt at that. Thanks for dropping by, and or the lovely words of encouragement.

Jack Ellison

Date: 9/10/2013 5:51:00 AM

"we will acknowledge the thorns, but focus on the beauty" this is one of life's beautiful secrets! BTW, your dish sounds like something to die for! Have yourself a fabulous day filled with love and Mouhalabieh! LOL Warm cuddlies... Kenny xoxox

Eileen Manassian
Date: 9/10/2013 12:14:00 PM

:) Hugs, back at you, Jack. Been a busy day for me. Invited for lunch, babysat in the afternoon, had family over in the evening...Just now able to come back on. Thanks for being a sweet ending to my day! Hugs! XOXO Will come your way soon..........

Jon A Cavanaugh

Date: 9/10/2013 5:48:00 AM

Wow, What a wonderful sensuous poem. My grandmother used to make an indian dessert using rose water. Jalabies not sure how to spell it but they were wonderful. Now I have to try "Mouhalabieh" if I can find it. Love your poem and your note.

Eileen Manassian
Date: 9/10/2013 12:13:00 PM

Hi Jon, nice to see you here! :) Yes, we have a similar drink called jilab....on the surface...sprinkled pine nuts. Hmmmmmm...Yes, well, I do love this sweet. :) Glad that you loved this poem, Jon. Thanks for the sweet words.

Terry O'Leary

Date: 9/10/2013 4:51:00 AM

Beautiful, beautiful... Terry

Eileen Manassian
Date: 9/10/2013 1:39:00 PM

Terry...Thanks ever so much for this lovely post.

Anne-Lise Andresen
Date: 9/10/2013 5:51:00 AM

- You are right ... wise Words !!! <3 + <3 Love !!!

Anne-Lise Andresen

Date: 9/10/2013 3:09:00 AM

- Beautiful, Eileen !!! - - - And, yes you are :a lovely red red rose ! - oxox // Anne-Lise :)

Eileen Manassian
Date: 9/10/2013 12:11:00 PM

:) No need to apologize, my dear.

Anne-Lise Andresen
Date: 9/10/2013 5:53:00 AM

- Here should these words be.....sorry

Eileen Manassian
Date: 9/10/2013 4:42:00 AM

So are you, my sweet. One of the reasons I wrote this is to show that beauty and ugliness co-exist. We are naive if we think people are perfect....If we love someone enough, we will acknowledge the thorns, but focus on the beauty....perhaps even have the fortitude to help dethorn them. Gibran Khalil Gibran stated that when people look at a rose...some see the beauty, others the thorns...You chose to see beauty...XoXo