When I hold a rose
I see the soft, velvety petals
and smile, because
tucked between
those precious petals
is a special gift-
the one of a frgrance
pure and sweet

When you hold a rose,
you see the thorns
along the stem,
and you frown
because those thorns
can bring you pain
and cause you to bleed.

I see the gift
you see the tragedy
More and more
I fear that one of these days
someone will and me a rose
and all I will see
are the thorns. Again.