A rose

Left alone

Stands alone

But never is alone

A rose

Is embraced by soft colors

Rich deep colors

Colors fade

A thorn in its side

Covers the pride

Of the mighty, indifferent

Rose

But a rose

If you will

Will never be sweeter

Than if the rose

Adds a pink

To the cheeks of a receiver

But a rose

Can fall below compliment

Be a cover-all

Perhaps

For insults or involvement

In some of treasonous affair

A rose raises

Suspicion

Or is it

Submission

To a dutiful deed called

Love

Is a rose

For a lover

Or is it a brother,

A fallen comrade in arms?

To be placed among many

In a quaint cemetery

On a grace dug only too soon

Or

Is it to be placed

On a table

Among a sickness

Unstable

Pretending

To lighten the mood?

A rose

Left alone

Stands alone

But never is alone…