Along Came a Precious Rose, So Fragile and Young

A Rose without thorns or thistles
found her way into my life;
like a ray of light and of love,
she pierced my inward strife.

From faraway she appeared,
sage, young and maiden;
and as she grew closer to me,
she saw in me her twin.

But from fear and from distrust
I sought to push her away:
For I feared to let her in and
let her have with me her sway.

This I did twice now already;
but dear God in Heaven!—
by doing thus all I've achieved
was hurting my 'oft-hurt twin.

Alas, alas! what have I done
to one so giving and so kind?
I am unworthy of her friendship
and of her heart and lovely mind.

But...O happy, happy day for me!
With her great heart and soul
she forgave my double offense
so that we may again be whole.

My comely, long and sable-haired Rose
with your apple-green eyes!
How good to me you are,—how kind,
how mild, how sweet, how very wise!

I am so honored that you call
yourself my twin and equal,
a version of me at twenty-five:—
indeed, we are reciprocal.

You have so much potential and
mastered so much, dear Rose,
that you ought not have to live
under self-doubt's shadows.

Sadly, you once said to me: "Men
like me, but I don't see why."
But I see why, dear—for those you
love you would sacrifice and die.




Poetry by Ngoc Nguyen The PoetBay support member heart!
Read 887 times
Written on 2019-08-03 at 17:04

Tags Poetry  Rose  Love 

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Marie Cadavieco The PoetBay support member heart!
This is so beautiful, I think anyone would love your 'Rose without thorns or thistles'. I feel sad, though, that the poet feels he has harmed her, he puts her on a pedestal, but it seems she is stronger than he thinks. Lovely poem.
- Marie
2019-08-04