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| Rosa gallica Evêque, painted by Redouté |
Give me a minute
to discern how to
hold on when rose thorns
push into my thumbs
but the bouquet—red
as blood—is the prize
(the only prize) for
being kind, human-
kind, and being here
with pen in hand to
translate your words
glory, grace and burning.
to discern how to
hold on when rose thorns
push into my thumbs
but the bouquet—red
as blood—is the prize
(the only prize) for
being kind, human-
kind, and being here
with pen in hand to
translate your words
glory, grace and burning.
How can I say no?
Yet, give me a chance
to discern how when
rose thorns pierce my heart
and Moses’s cane
already snakes forth
warnings at my feet
that he said yes, too,
to freedom and service.
Hold on a minute
while I breathe perfume
from roses and yes.
Yet, give me a chance
to discern how when
rose thorns pierce my heart
and Moses’s cane
already snakes forth
warnings at my feet
that he said yes, too,
to freedom and service.
Hold on a minute
while I breathe perfume
from roses and yes.
How I can hold on
I will never know
but here I am for
you, bleeding right here.
I will never know
but here I am for
you, bleeding right here.
Posted for
Copyright © 2014 S.L.Chast
Wowzers, how to hold on for the beauty, while the thorns draw blood.....that is powerful........I really like Moses' cane snaking forth warnings at your feet.
ReplyDeleteWhew! The movement in the flow of words is stunning.
ReplyDeleteZQ
We must find a way to hold on to beauty despite the pain caused by the thorns in our lives. The perfume from roses can help us on our journey, I think. Beauty can overcome pain.
ReplyDeleteI like the tension in your poem, Susan. The pain on the one hand and beauty on the other. Do we have any other choice but to hang on to the latter so that the pain can eventually recede?
ReplyDeleteThat is a powerful poem the beauty of a rose is how to hold on when the thorns are sharp..
ReplyDeleteOh, such passion expression of readiness for service...and yes, spirituality I guess has priority before the personal/private love to extend one's heart for universal service...~ Strong poem! x
ReplyDeletelove how you end it.. still waiting, bleeding.
ReplyDeleteit's sad that rose has to have thorns...taking time and without hurry we should hold on..even if we bleed the rose will help us to bear the pain...beautiful...
ReplyDeleteThis is excellent, the power of life and blood shed in the thorn of life. Excellent images and powerful message.
ReplyDeleteLove this Susan. It has special meaning in my life now. Trying to smell the roses, while life itself pierces, as life often does. But luckily, there are so many varieties of roses.
ReplyDeleteyes, sometimes it can be painful to hold on, but the prize is worth so much more than the pain!
ReplyDeletestacy lynn mar
http://warningthestars.blogspot.com/
Great Susan, "bleeding right here..." indeed... With Best Wishes Scott www.scotthastie.com
ReplyDeleteWhat an incredible metaphor this is as we see the beauty of this world bleeding once more in God's name.
ReplyDeleteThe rose comes with thorns.Beauty comes with a price .
ReplyDeletevery powerful tugs at heart.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteAh, hold on, tis a …
constant struggle yet cannot reach the flower
But for the thorn crawling twisting trembling,
climbing up the tender twig, of wings
the insect is shorn;
sorrow seeps sinks what does one feel?
Battle, blatant killing fields and one thinks
why are there flowers steel and splinter showers?
'as flies to wanton boys' are we, the human beings
toys? In the minds of sinners and sinning?
When will love again be born?
O’ Innocent Insect, do you know
the Way? We are lost and gone astray…
Hold on….
O' Lord, Guide me, if only I were one
I would just creep and crawl
scream nor moan nor be forlorn
But of the flower will think,
and smile and bleed and pray,
till the very end, each and every day.
Wonderful poem, I love the idea of Moses' staff snaking at you feet.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful words... Wonderful expressionists...
ReplyDeleteI dont have an answer either