I

Twelve dozen red roses plus one

For you on Valentine’s Day

To show my love.

II

Black roses lay solemnly,

At a funeral, for the man,

I used to love.

III

A woman was once described

As an English rose,

Classically beautiful with

Thorny edges that bled when you struck.

IV

The Rose you pinned to your breast,

Of your tailored suit, as a sign of our love

As my father walked me down the aisle.

V

My Mother’s favourite flower,

‘Roses come in all different colours’ she said.

Yellow for friendship, white for purity,

‘But beware of the red ones,’

For the thorns will embed themselves into your heart.

VI

It seemed like a fairy tale

And you were the beast, and the rose

Stood suspended, softly swooning,

Our symbol of decaying love

In a gilded glass cage as I forced myself to love you,

For who could love a beast?

VII

Rose we named her,

For beauty and happiness.

As I crooned to her softly.

VIII

Wars over the roses,

The red and white of

Lancaster and York

For the throne of the roses.

X

A rose from Aphrodite given to

Harpocrates to keep the secrets

Of women’s exploits,

For all women’s mysteries are best kept

By Silence.

 XI

The five petals of roses

The five wounds of Christ,

For he who gifted us with life

In his sacrifice.

XII

Lucius in your curiosity magic turned on you,

And your ass was left to the goddess Isis,

For her ‘sweet Rose of reason and virtue’

Righted your wrongs and lifted the curse,

And you were overwhelmed by her goodness and light,

You vowed to serve her forevermore.

XIII

England and your empire of many,

Roses hide the truth of your evil

Deeds.