Best Roses Poems
In all her glory, dawn has burst forth,
With a slight glow of early morning brightness
I sit in the bower, listening to birds in concert
And admire wonderful, Rosebuds unfold,
Revealing a beautiful red rose
With a precision wisp of light prancing around them
Emitting a velvety feeling, so tempting to touch
Long green stems, prickles,
Full of scallop trim leaflets all in green,
With brown thin veins
Around the red velvet leaves,
Music playing on cool fresh air
Coursing through the whispering leaves
Sweet aroma of moist dew and rose perfumes
Floating gently on the breeze
Gives me an intense curiosity to embrace the rose
Just the sight of the red roses
Reminds me to breathe
~
She gathered roses,
one at a time,
choosing carefully,
for you see, they were her healing
A light breeze tickled her hair
as a brief smile curved upon her soft lips
The sun, bright on this day was a welcome diversion
from the clouds that followed in her mind
Life was green in this meadow
and she enjoyed the green as it flowed
as far as her eyes could see,
snipping yet another pink rose
Not everything was beautiful in her world
but the roses spoke to her, delicate whispers
telling her she was special and that even a thorn
drawing blood could feel good once the pain had subsided
She had touched many thorns in her life,
the scars though faded still decorated her in guilt
A butterfly caught her glimpse, wings of black and blue,
once her colors, now another slice of nature’s wonder
This butterfly was her and she knew it,
free to move about the petals as she pleased
Happily greeting each bloom, caressing the textures
within the safety of her garden
She gathered roses,
one at a time,
choosing carefully
for you see they were her…
healing
~
8/21/19
For the: Wow Me Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: Nina Parmenter
we don’t appreciate
the sun until it r a i n s,
warmth of gentle rays
that subtly stroke
distressed skin
when time was f r o z e n
smiles were s t o l e n
and hope yet again
remains b r o k e n…
whilst I’m lying here
in the in-betweens of
procrastinated promises
along bitter breezes~
you use your poetic
words as a weapon,
oppressing the guardians
around my dreams,
oblivious to the
translucent truth
laced in trimmed nylon,
that you and me
we’re made of
the same s t o n e
we wear the same
crown of t h o r n s
sitting on the throne
of darkness, full of
stainless steel cages
and chain link fences,
turning
these emotions
into
cancerous tumors,
knocking on your
conscience, patronizing
the pigments of
my petal-like palette
by questioning
your own roots..
but now I’ve got feathers
in my bleeding heart,
and if these crimson wings
could fly, you’ll find me
soaring above seas
of solitude, that pushed
me down to an abyss
of n o t h i n g n e s s.
watch me unlock
the keys of jasmine doors
to seek serendipity surrender,
as my muse serenades
rainbow reveries,
amidst faded stars
and moonless nights
which
gaslit my
apologies and roses.
I have tried
to twirl through
ravenous ravens in a
carnival of carnivores
you’ve fed my mind
labelling me
as the serpent q u e e n
with twisted words,
whilst you whirl around
with
ghosts of p o e t r y
in your
cathartic h a z e..
your love
is a hand grenade
that shattered my aching
bones into scattered
s m o k e and f o g
they say
the biggest hearts
are the
biggest targets,
and the rifles you hold,
seems to have
my name engraved in
blood-soaked tears…
so, now that you’ve
pulled the trigger,
how would you stop
the ammo?
Will you remain forever
in your
unbending silence
a false humility
disguised
as k i n d n e s s
that flickers glitter,
to ascend brighter
as the bullet settles
upon my spine, halting
me from movement?
Or will you watch me
c r a w l back to the
spheres where I belong?
for I refuse to rot
as a victim of an
unwritten circumstance.
Tender tendrils climb the wall
Up towards the sky
Past the latticed windows tall
Clinging on from high.
Then in springtime buds in red
Pout with lips apart
Inhibitions they all shed
And seduce my heart.
----------------------------------
Contest: A 7/5 Trochee
Sponsor: Andrea Dietrich
Placed: 1st
ROSES ARE RED
The flower’s crimson cerise hue
creates the petal’s grand debut
of love and memories to recall
my florid sanguine gift of all
VIOLETS ARE BLUE
Azalea breath with foxglove tones
embellish with an azure clone
herbaceous with a petal white
where insects set and birds alight
SUGAR IS SWEET
Bright butterflies on zephyr breeze
sip nectar from Sakura trees
I watch them dance from break of dawn
on flowers where their wings adorn
AND SO ARE YOU
You sent me a bouquet of love
drifting down from heaven above
Candy kisses sweet as fructose
on bended knee you now propose
06-22-17
Collaboration Jan Allison and Ralph Sergi
The widow among roses,
though a scent so sweet
she smells to near smile,
how red the vibrance of life
and soft the petals caress
her lonely cheek,
she remembers her love lost
(her left eye a tombstone glass)
and seizes not to yearn it back ---
The Blacklady among crimson;
her desert rains evermore night and day,
and still the dunes of her heart soak not with love,
the arrid wind still shoots the sand
through her wasteland unbetrothed,
where the sun never rises,
nor never beautifully it sets
through her tombstone eye
She walks the night dressed in white,
her wedding gown a sight for ghosts
and phantoms do fright;
they cannot haunt ---
this foot-in-the-grave-soul,
glowing white-red howling at the moon
To true midnite her feet carries her so,
where the river rushes reflecting
forever moon glow
Where the nymph and sylph and dryad never go,
whispering and wondering ---
gazing to this lady alone,
this poor begotten thing ---
this shadow unto death,
who filled with eternal tears
(seated in some unknown place)
her nose in roses, and her mind always in the past
(grieving life)
and mourning some faceless man
*** Inspired from a friend's mother, who at the age
of 40 --- all but gave up on life at the death of her
husband, which deeply saddened me ***
We planted roses in the spring
when love was floating in the air.
A diamond glittered on your ring
reflected in your hazel eyes
the rainbow hues of paradise.
We had so much to give and share.
The months went by, the roses bloomed,
but when one day an ill wind blew –
no mercy shown – our dreams were doomed
to wither slowly and decay.
That fateful night you passed away
all the white roses died with you.
---------------------------------------
[Pub. PS: It’s Poetry: An anthology of contemporary poetry from around the world 2020]
Rhyme scheme: A-B-A-C-C-B D-E-D-F-F-E
Contest: Rhyme Time 7 ~ Deep and Dark
Sponsored by Lu Loo
Placed 1st
© 27th December 2018
(1.)
From Dawn's Spirited Breath, See Red, Red Rose
When Summer rose meets dawning's sweetest hush
Sun comes to bequeath its dawn bathing rays
Red beauty gleaming, rose stills early rush
Into man's world shines, another bright day.
With red rose petals spreading ever wide
Calming thoughts, heavenly blue ocean waves
One may from duty or play thus decide
No plucking, to rose's truest of beauty save.
Within Nature's truth, rests a native song
Of wanderings some lost souls have traveled
In desperate search for truth to belong
Hope, such tapestry, can be unraveled.
From Dawn's spirited breath, they see red rose.
And wonder why its color, Nature chose.
Robert J. Lindley,
Sonnet, Rhyme, ( To Gaze In Awe At Red Rose Radiant Colors )
(2.)
Red Rose, Sing Me A Sweeter Melody
Alas! Flowers winter breath soon must feel
Frigid wind, that fierce and dastardly blows
Pray I, mildest winter, on knees I kneel
Begging for Spring, when fantastic green shows.
Red rose, sing me a sweeter melody
Of paradise that hold Spring all the year
Casting winter's fangs into darkest sea
Allaying this man's dreaded icy fears.
Shall I, for deepest beauty thus reward
A plastic cover to thy life extend
For here blasting winter chill 'tis so hard
Harsh reality, let us not pretend!
Red rose, thy bright song must for a time end.
Solemn vow held as, magnificent friend!
Robert J. Lindley,
Sonnet, Rhyme, ( Red Rose, To Admiring Heart, Thy Truest Song Sing )
(3.)
Then Red Rose Blushed Its Petals Brightest Red
Songbirds to red rose, thy colors cry out
Bestow thy harmonious songs as gifts
We sing melodies while flying about
Hoping thy red souls it truly uplifts.
Red rose, songbirds assuredly you know
In my soft flowerbeds I welcome thee
In Mother earth's soil I happily grow
With pleasure serve her busy honey-bee.
Listen Mother Nature so softly said
Birds to you, I giveth earth and blue sky
To red rose I gift my fine virgin beds
None but blinded man would be asking why!
Then red rose blushed its petals brightest red
Proving to all, truth Mother Nature said!
Robert J. Lindley, 11-27-2019
Sonnet, Rhyme, ( Red Rose, Songbirds, Mother, Nature- A Conversation )
He knew how to turn up the soil and seed,
Before the sun got hot by summer's glade;
And on his lips recounting roses creed
He gently viewed them as they swayed;
Together in a garden built of tweed
A bloom-vestige of grace, softly arrayed;
And as the gardener drank his amber tea,
he thought of roses and he thought of me.
when last rays of autumn - tip toe along to sunset streaked reveries
listen to the crisp breeze of fallen fairies - truth floats through tawny tunes
whilst crickets chirp - lulling grieving trees - silhouette of sky bursts in gold
a crumpled haven of seraphic swings - whistling wind-swept dreams of brown
as twilight bleeds merlot red runes - shifting shades of coral pink clouds weep
flurry flakes curve - amidst a deep labyrinth of chamomile silence
butterflies rest upon rain rinsed roses - exhaling brisk balmy blues
timeless tales of forgotten tulips - yet between dusk and dawn faith thrives
and frost-kissed hope - swiftly turns a new leaf - feathered with crystal belief
but - if to love your moon is madness - let stars fade into cosmic dust
Now published at tankajournal.com
Inspired by Chris'tanka contest ~Now, for the contest :)
Knotted in the Dance
Our eyes in a silent promise locked,
the way only stranger's can.
Perhaps foretelling of lover's, unfrocked,
langoured and breathless ran.
You, I think, blushed in surprise,
though I really don't remember.
For I, like a thief rushed window pried,
saw only endless splendor.
Your face laying against my chest explored,
and traced the furrow'd line.
Though indifferent to that wound ignored,
the scar I tried to hide.
You, now with arms around my neck entwined,
my hands, the master of your curved hips.
Knew how with charms, bound to defect, divined,
to lands where time stands unperturbed in eclipse.
Few hovered the hall that night as we,
caught in love's magical trance.
Two lover's enthralled in flight shall be,
forever knotted in the dance.
he is tall and dark
gentle strong hands tender heart
brown eyes deep like sea
plant peace inside me
he gave me twelve red roses
pearly smile shining
On our wedding he gave a crystal rose
Flowering forever, enrobed in glass
Ballerina's grace in delicate pose
Guardianship of tradition, of class
Witness of first years, of paper, cotton
Commitment held, her thorns learn to forgive
Pain polished away, stains dimmed, forgotten
Like love immortal, death she will outlive
Ten years on, he presented me her twin
Silvery spring caught; his honor, my gift
For old promises kept, new ones begin
He is still my rock amid rivers swift
Two roses, bloom in space the heart allows
Two roses, as eternal as our vows.
8/01/18
I am being told to let go
By almost everyone I know
Release, let it out, let it be
Plunge into passivity
While I cling to bitter beauty
My bruises bloom a thorny tree
Guarding roses of agony
This pain is mine, it belongs to me
My torment is my blood, it breathes
with every breath, it beats with my heartbeats
Within my tears, it weeps
It shrieks, uncoiled, beneath my skin
Where the sin of suffering begins
It is my fertile fury, my hellish choir
My savage soul, my cathartic fire
It is large and lush and livid
Conquering and vivid
It is too precious, too valuable, to trade away or wallow
in trinkets, or flimsy platitudes, or empty cliches, or hollow
promises of unfulfilling fortresses to follow
Their learned words I dare spurn
For to recover, I must burn
So I will keep it, for I know its worth,
even if their unsolicited, unwarranted, intrusive,
Questioning and questionable, inconclusive
Unadvised advisors do not grant it girth
It is here I find
What I want most
Where rage of kindness blinds
My grieving ghosts.
06/06/20
Entered in 'N/A Rerun 7'
1st Place