Notes About The Poem

An extract from my epic poem Kalamand, available on Amazon. See PS classified.

As with The Future, here is an example of a design tradeoff in poetry between clarity of thought, on the one hand, and precision of form on the other. The first is as originally composed, long ago; the second is better structured, as I came to care more about such things, but I do not now think it is better. One sometimes finds that the wisdom of age is less than the wisdom of youth.

I Shall Not Pray for Roses

I shall not pray for roses,
When daffodils would do:
There's glory in the simple things
That I will not eschew.

I shall not pray for roses,
When daffodils would do:
The simple without poses,
I never shall eschew.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2025

Poem

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Lane Avatar
April 20, 2025 at 4:07 AM
I've always thought, "What's the fuss over roses?" I'd prefer peonies, or violets, or even wildflowers of the fields. Some are the most beautiful of all.
Prothero Avatar
April 20, 2025 at 11:35 AM
My little memory of botany is that roses are supposed to have five petals. The modern contraption is not nature's plan.
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