Crimson Rose Poem by Aarthi Narasimhan

Ever heard of a rose
crush its own petal?
Ever known of a heart
kill its own heartbeat?

Oh! for all eternity
shall this truth remain.
that with fingers cold
my own love I’ve slain.

I pretend not to notice
the crimson tide that flows
I try not to notice
the bruise from my own blows

I gave it away readily
so soft and so trusting
but oh! my very own love
I have killed with no feeling

Cry I can not
for the world demands tall
I show nonchalance
I fell not at all

my love lies dying
slain by hands soft
instead of holding firmly
I have it knowingly lost

cruel, cold…no..frigid
the very heart that loved
now lies in pools of red
not dead but so unloved

Oh! for all eternity
shall this truth remain.
that with fingers cold
my own love I’ve slain.