Ballad of a Long-Stemmed Love

Two roses on a thorny bush

One day did meet on their vine.

Their love was true and at first sight,

The works of one divine.

The one rose was a blooming male,

Of a bright and berry-red hue.

He was as sweet and charming as mockingbird song,

Loyal, gallant, and true.

The other rose was a lady fair,

Whose dew-dipped eyes would shine

In the crisp light of the early dawn,

And her petals were dark and sanguine.

As days went by, when sunshine reined,

They learned their love was right.

And when it was dark, their sweet, green leaves

Were together throughout the night.

As time went by, he noticed

She began to move away.

The distance grew, as did their love

At the end of every day.

Her vine was growing awkwardly,

Shooting up to the top of the plant.

He thought he would be with her forever,

If only he wasn’t so scant.

She cried from afar, “Why must Lady Fate be so cruel?

Is she mad or completely deranged?

But just as I grow, so will my love,

For you and that will not change!”

“I know it’s wrong,” the male rose said,

“But I’m feeling extremely jealous,

Out of all these other rosy pairs,

Why must WE love across the trellis?”

And so it was, it could not be changed,

Even though the seasons did.

And soon the daylight hours shortened

And there came a bitter wind.

She felt the chill move through her stem,

It instilled her heart with fear,

Her beautiful petals began to shrivel.

She knew the end was near.

As he sat upon the trellis,

Thinking of his one true love,

He noticed something falling

From the vine that was above.

A blood red petal came sailing down

Onto the chilly grass,

He recognized the color

And knew what had come to pass.

Tears welled up in his freezing eyes,

As her body continued to fall,

He bowed his head and his body shook

As he wept in grief of it all.

But he realized as he said, “I love you.”

And he wiped the tears from his eyes,

And her spirit floated on the wind,

That true love never dies.