Grandfather's rose bush.

Just words.

      Grandfather's rose bushes

Grandfather loved his rose bushes. He told me often. The roses are from England.

     Grandfather's rose bushes

My grandfather loved his roses. He would care for them and ensure they survived the Winter. He was a story-teller and he loved his story of the roses.

He told me often. My Great grandmother was a cook in the castle of the king. She had a b*****d  son and she was send to New York city in 1880. She was pissed off and she cut off pieces of the King's rose bushes.

She met a man in New York and they went to Detroit. She planted the Rose pieces in the Michigan soil  and she loved them till she die. Been passed on to all the family. He would smile and he would tell me. We were born of kings and lived as paupers. 

I cut a piece off his bush in the year 2000. The King roses had spread to front and back yard. I love my roses and when they bloom. I remember my Grandfather.

Now I am the Grandfather and I tell my children and grandchildren. See the roses, once roses of the King.  They loved the story of being the b*****d children of the king and they cut a piece off and replant.

I hope my children and my grandchildren remember me when the roses bloom.

                Johnnie

Author's Note

Just words.

Reviews

[Chris Shaw]

What a beautiful way to be remembered, passing rose cuttings and stories through the generations. I love the story of your Great Grandmother Johnnie, she must have loved roses very much, and she must have had green fingers to keep them alive. The image you have posted shows a deep velvety red, I would imagine the perfume is wonderful. Thank you for sharing a piece of your family history with us.

Chris

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Chris. My grandfather loved his garden. I saw photos of her. A tough English lady.

[Chris Shaw]

I am pleased you have a little bit of England in you Johnnie :))

[¿]

You're heartedly welcome😊

[Dave]

What a fantastic family tradition! Personally I love roses, it's my favorite flower. At one time I the most beautiful yellow roses. I tried very hard to keep them alive. After several years though one of our harsh winters finally did them in.
Thank you for sharing your rose story, I appreciate it.
Take care - Dave

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Dave. I love my Grandfather's roses. I can see him standing by them when they bloom.

[Dave]

Those are the kinds of memories we never want to lose.

[Josie E. Cook M. A.]

I think most women love some variety of roses. My favorite is yellow as far as color. Then, there is the sterling rose and it is another favorite of mine.
You captured the love of them and it is a dear story in our narrative poetry.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Josie. Roses have many meanings.

[Stella Armour]

John, i suspect we are all descended one way or another from royalty, so many young girls were used by princes and kings alike; but you and i know that royal blood does not define us. Iit is how we live and think... even as paupers we can be better human beings than many of the kings of England were !.

Roses of England are so many and so beautiful, in the county where i live we have the white rose of Yorkshire and in the next county they have the red rose of Lancashire..hence when battles were fought between the tow counties, they were called "The Wars of the Roses".

I think your beautiful story to be true ,and your grandmother a wonderful spirited lady to steal the king's roses lol

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Stella. Roses, the flower of story. Thank you for reading and the comment. I do appreciate.

[Stella Armour]

you are very welcome John, always a pleasure :)

[Zoya]

Wow, I'd love to be given an 'heirloom' such as that from my grandparents. Loved the story of the English roses. Beautiful!

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Zoe. Nice to have stories to pass on..

[Bacchus]

My mom was asked by the previous owners of the house she owns, if the could divide some of the hosta up for their new home... I said no, unless they were their grandparent's roses. Somehow roses really are more precious than hostas... How would a hosta poem go? Thanks coyote for this.

[Coyote Poetry]

Hosta poem would be interesting. Thank you Bacchus for reading and the comment.

[Onlyme]

wow, Jonnie, that has got to be the most heartfelt rose bloom of a heirloom. I truly felt the love and meaning behind all. Thank you for sharing with us all.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Dee for reading and the kind words. I do appreciate.

[Ken Simm.]

As a keen gardener and writer of course I love this.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Ken. I wish I had the skill of my Grandfather. He had a wonderful garden.

[barleygirl]

I've gotten so many of my garden plants from someone else's cuttings, & I always feel the essence of this person who shared the cutting, whenever I enjoy the plant. I always think about where my plants came from, so I know how this connection can feel very intense & special, as you've shared it here in a heartfelt way (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Margie for reading and the comment. I love my plants too.

[Corset]

what a wonderful story, I would plant them too XD Love Roses , love them best in the ground. Your imagination is so incredible, traditions, lol, some make you scratch your head, but this one is spot on. I wish they didn't call them b******s, blood is blood and roses are roses. excellent story, thank you coyote!

[Coyote Poetry]

My grandfather was proud of this story. Maybe, be tested one day. King Coyote. Had a ring to it. Thank you Corset for reading and the comment.

[Corset]

lol, it sure does! your Majesty :D