Laura Jayne at Pictures, Poetry & Prose poses a daily writing challenge.The prompt for this poem was “The Beauty of the Rose”.
I sort of took a contrary view but a rose demands a sonnet.
The Case for the Negative
What’s in a name? That which we call a rose,
By any other name, would smell as sweet.*
Thanks but it’s not the name that’s on the nose,
It’s all the rosy problems that I meet.
There are aphids, thrip, moths and red spider,
Rust and black spot, catapillars hairy,
And the thorny branches can provide a
Most nasty wound to the unwary.
You often need to prune and deadhead them
To shape and otherwise try to train them;
And then worry if you’ve overfed them.
It really is a pain to maintain them.
Frankly, in the garden I am too lazy:
Ditch the roses, plant a daisy.
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© J Cosmo Newbery
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* Shakespeare, Romeo & Juliet, (II, ii, 1-2)
i don't even plant a daisy ..
ReplyDeletei just let the weeds and the wilderness be.
I agree with those sentiments 100%. To put it bluntly, roses can suck it.
ReplyDeleteI tried to plany roses one year but my dogs(black labs) tore them up and treated tehm like chew toys. I like daisys though but they dug those up too!
ReplyDeleteAre you trying to hide your last post by burying it under a rose bed?
ReplyDeleteMy, you've been a busy boy. Out in the garden? I'm jealous. Mine is under a foot of snow.
ReplyDeleteThe Trophy Cabinet is a fun feature... spiffy, even. Maybe a style blog is next? ;)
I do love roses but those thorns and pruning can cause nasty wounds.
ReplyDeleteMy beautiful white 'Iceberg' rose died last year which was sad as I liked to pick the blooms for indoors; now when I fancy roses I just buy myself a bouquet, great, no thorns. ♥
to paraphrase john lennon, "let it grow, let it grow...."
ReplyDeleteI do so adore when you are contrary.
ReplyDelete