On Roses

“Paraphrase of an adage that pertains to nearly all of us-
Sure, sometimes they’ve been the thorn, but they should be equally remembered for the times they’ve been the rose.” – Anonymous

On Roses

though rosebushes 
share leaves 
thorns 
and blossoms, 
nevertheless, 
they are not 
all the same

for 
the rosebush 
of many blossoms 
rightfully 
attracts 
the bees and butterflies 
the bush 
of many thorns 
and few blossoms 
does not

the rosebush
of many blossoms
rightfully
attracts
our awe
at its beauty
and fragrance
which the bush
of many thorns
and few blossoms
does not

the rosebush
of many thorns
devoid 
of the beauty
of blossoms
its fragrant peddles
replaced
with trite
adages
about the blossoms
it possessed
one summer

the rosebush
of many thorns
offering nothing
to the butterflies
or bees
exists
primarily
to harm

there is nothing 
unfair
about 
the attractions
of the rosebush
of many blossoms

there is nothing
unfair
about the caution
indifference
or criticism
given
to the bush
of many thorns
and little beauty
especially 
since the type of rosebush
we are
is the one
we've chosen
to be