Red Rose Poem by Cameron Gallant

Rain in droves
Down it flowed
And in its wake
A rose emerged

Gentle, sweet
Proclaimed the peace
That men we yearn
But can’t release

With rain from cheeks
Of lost, unloved
Poked shy pedals
Stretched for above

In dreary minds
Eyes opened wide
They witnessed hope
Bloom from a vine

Small and frail
But people cared
And raised thee like
A long lost child

~

It came for peace
And to proclaim
That love is block
From pounding rain

To love ye neighbor
To love ye self
To love ye God
Above all else

And people flocked
To hear its truth
Assert to men
Justice and rules

And although small
Not large or buff
The purity
Was quite enough

The rose, it bloomed
In world of grey
Resurgence
From sinful way

~

Mist to sting
The broken hearts
Of men and women’s
Souls that starve

For they know not
Of life beyond
Of hope that sprung
From Father’s palm

In water deep
Red rose shed love
Light it shown
Bright from above

Now please, in a
World full of fear
Remind us, we are
Servants here

We shall remember
To bound in praise
Our lives were hopeful
Since rose was raised

(Published in Print in 'DeSSerted Island: Poem Collection' - 2014)