Notes About The Poem
By Rajita Maitra:
Queen Rose and Her Many Sisters
"THE PRAISE OF ROSES.
If Zeus had willed it so/ That o’er the flowers one flower should reign a queen,
I know, ah well I know/The rose, the rose, that royal flower had been!"
-John Addington Symonds (inspired by Sappho's "Song of the Rose")
Poised on the precipice of springtime
are ornamental trees and flowers soon to bloom.
But it is with the utmost anticipation
that I await the blossoming
of my precious roses
which unfold themselves so beautifully to the sky.
I will exit my house one day
and there she will be in front of my porch -
my first dewy-faced darling of the season.
Most often she appears as a ruby red.
But sometimes it’s the blue rose
that first presents herself.
Like a queen is the lavender-hued rose named Blue,
for she sits high above all the bushes surrounding her
wearing warm May’s sunshine as her crown.
Her humble subject, I cannot help but admire her
each time I arrive home, pulling up onto my driveway.
How I hate to see my fair queen
f a d e a w a y
But happily her delicate, pretty sisters come along -
more and more and more of them crowding in
to take her place among the bushes, offering their nectar
to the worshipping bees and occasional hummingbird.
What pleasure I derive in catching sight
of that perky hummingbird!
From spring – through summer -
and even toward the end of chilly fall – they reign,
coming one right after the other in regal fashion.
How splendidly my roses do beguile me.
Will they come early this year?
And which will be the first one this time
to take the throne -
the royal Ruby Red or the towering sovereign Blue?
Only time will tell!
March 13, 2021
For the Flower Or Flowers In Imagism Form - Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Constance La France
Post Comments
Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.
Please
Login
to post a comment
Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a
Premium Membership.
