Queen of Hearts

How long ago were those sun painted days we spent

Backs pressed against the long grass

Gazing up at the hanging red roses,

Singing to us of their flowery ways?

 

You would cut one down for me

And she wouldn't mind her measured death,

For she knew you felt naught but love.

Her thorns retracted in peaceful acceptance.

 

Then came that dark war,

Spiriting you away like some evil specter

Or those jealous will-o'-the-wisps

Leading you on to promised demise.

 

The day they told me was the day he swept in

All blundering and nervous in his regal garb.

He handed me that rose of wedding white

Promise of a good life ringing from his lips.

 

I took no pause in accepting my fate

And as he bid me adieu I grasped that angry bud.

Sharp thorns dug into my skin in vengeance

As blood seeped down its browning stem.

 

But I did not cry, no my sanity died with you,

So I threw my head towards the sky and laughed,

Smearing blood against the brilliant white petals…

Because I always preferred my roses painted red.

Author's Note

Comments? Suggestions?

Reviews

[Nusquam Esse]

What really makes this poem work so well is that final stanza, it brings it all together and leaves a haunting image which the rest of the poem would be nothing without. Love the way you combined the imagery and metaphors of roses and their colours and thorns, with the blood which interacts with them both. Again, a superb ending on this one.

[Ashira Macy]

Thank you Esse, I am glad you felt the ending was so powerful. It is important to end with a bang every once and a while. =)

[Mayank]

Painful, the war had bought many tears in the eyes of the loved ones... the emotions I find in the books written at the time of war are the unbeatable.

[Ashira Macy]

So true, wars are awful things that tear people apart physically and emotionally.

[BennyBooth]

I felt the love, I felt the pain, now I have read this, i'll never look at a white rose the same.... Nice work!

[Ashira Macy]

Haha, thank you for you rhyming rave review my friend. =)

[Pushkar Prabhat]

wow! romantic, dark and powerful.
mesmerizing!
i loved it!
:)

[Ashira Macy]

Thanks so much my friend!

[micky]

Dark and yet vengeful I love it Ashira it is simply Awesome! No better way to put this piece :}

[Ashira Macy]

Thanks so much Micky, I am happy you liked it!

[Shadow Paradox]

Wow! This was intriguing. I sense betrayal here yet it is accepted 'Smearing the blood against the white petals because I always preferred my roses painted red' It started off with bundles of light and airiness and then a horrid change intercepted yet it was accepted despite the pain and hurt. Lovely piece.

[Ashira Macy]

Thank you so much my friend, I am so glad you enjoyed it!

[Shadow Paradox]

You are welcome!

[Marie]

Somewhat surrealistic...I'd rather feel the story behind this than know it...

[Ashira Macy]

Alice in Wonderland inspired has to be a bit surrealistic to stay true. ;)

[Matching Socks]

Tragic, true love lost, man rides in like a white knight offering support, loyalty, a promise.
But he is not, never will be, the person who offered a red rose. My heart has broken a tiny bit.
Wonderful narration.

[Ashira Macy]

Thanks so much Ana, I am so happy you liked it!

[Frieda P]

Vengeance is mine, let the blood flow! I felt the prick as the heart trickled upon virginal white rose petals. A ravishing tale of romantic promises. Love the personification of the rose, it's an outstanding read Ashira.

[Ashira Macy]

Loved this poetic response Frieda, thank you so much. I like my flowers talkative. ;)

[Frieda P]

Unlike your men right? haha ;)

[Arrinae]

Do I sense inspiration from Wonderland? Well done indeed and very well written. It is dark and the thoughts and emotions are captivating. Very well done! I enjoyed reading it and I see noting that needs to be criticized.

[Ashira Macy]

You do indeed my perceptive friend, you do indeed. =) I am so happy you liked it!

[Ashfallen]

My god, I LOVE this. Dare I ask what inspired such a delicious vintage tale?
I love the beauty. The colors. The sweet nostalgia, the innocence. The epic tale, even the tragedy.
And the high dramatic ending. Beautiful and tragic. You have the gift, my lady. :)

[Ashira Macy]

You are so sweet my friend, I am glad you enjoyed it! I actually was working off of a prompt for a contest on a different site and it was a photo of a hand clutching a rose with blood dripping down the stem. I instantly thought of morbidly "painting the roses red". Thank you so much for your kind words my friend! =)