ROSE

The red rose�

they say all roses were white

once, before Aphrodite

was bitten by a thorn

and the blood seeped

into the flower

dying it

forever scarlet.

How is it

that pain can make beauty

all the stronger?

Why should a sweet, stunning

romantic rose

still puncture illusions,

cut so deep?

Aphrodite would know

if she weren�t busy

cursing the rose.