The Rose

Aw girl, did you dance with the devil

Get ripped apart

Where’s your heart

Ah, I see it beating in the gutter

Well girl, what can I say

Life's a b***h, and then you die

But you don’t want to hear that

No,no, not in your beautiful world

Not in pin up poster world

Aw girl

You want to go down to the love hospital

They’ll put you back together

But guess what

That beating heart

In the gutter

Maybe wants to last past puberty

So hey, I’ve been round the block

I’ll give you ten seconds of my time

Best ten seconds of advice you’ll ever hear

That rose growing in the garden there

Is that not the most beautiful thing in the world

Now, not only is that rose beautiful

It’s also very smart

It knows some jackass is going to try and take liberties

So it surrounds itself with thorns.

Do the same

Be that rose.

Reviews

[barleygirl]

I really love your underlying message here which is clearly heartfelt, with an original comparison to roses & thorns not found in most poems that address roses & thorns. The ending is really excellent & thought-provoking. There are a few clichés here that I would sweep away in favor of more originality to match your overall message (ex: life's a b***h & then you die . . . I've been around the block, etc.) But of course, this is just my opinion.

[Paul Bell]

I get your drift. I suppose i was trying to portray what words the old dog would use. (PS. I'm a pup. lol)

[barleygirl]

*woof! woof!* (((HUGS)))

[BBP]

So it surrounds itself with thorns....do the same....

Dig that line a lot.

[Paul Bell]

Thorns. Could be the years best seller

[BBP]

Thorns are a classic...... one of the rose's best qualities!

[Nancy Kathleen]

I am flabbergasted by this piece. Amazing!

[Paul Bell]

Thanks Nancy.

[Homason]

good phrase of encouragement. I'll add this: "come out of that gutter, be the rose."

[Paul Bell]

Thanks Homason.

[Homason]

A pleasure.

[ReedWrite]

I love the uniqueness of this poem...stepping outside the box and penning something this beautiful takes courage. I'm glad you did. The best advice, indeed. We can be that beautiful rose, but we won't last, unless we grow a few thorns. Perfect. Loved this piece...now, it's time to go sharpen my thorns. :)

[Paul Bell]

Not to many thorns now, you look great enough.

[Lorry]

Nicely captured Paul. I am in two minds after reading this. One says "Yeah, I know that feeling", and the other says "Yeah, I've been that prick before too."

[Lorry]

....And I just got away with a sweary without the dreaded ***. Today is a good day :)

[Paul Bell]

We're all that prick at sometime in our lives.

[Gee]

Oh how I wish I'd done that to protect my fragile teenage heart....yeah right. Nice Paul, very

[Paul Bell]

Thorns are in the post as we speak.

[Gee]

Bit late I'm afraid, +50, withered and worldly wise

[D Connolly]

Very nicely done Paul. Shame we have to surround ourselves with thorns just so we don't get picked, but there's always that jerk who deserves to get pricked. May their wounds fester.

[Paul Bell]

Tough world out there for you girls. To many chancers kicking around.

[Shabeeh Haider]

This is beautifully written, Paul.
Very sound words of advise that need to be heeded.

[Paul Bell]

Thanks Shabeeh.

[Marina]

The rose metaphor is probably the most cliche yet accurate one when giving life advice, and you somehow made it even better and refreshing. Fantastic poem!

[Paul Bell]

That's my gardening skills. How many years does it take for bulbs to come up.