Roses and Thorns

Doug Haberman 1959 (Albuquerque, NM)

May 22 


Here in life’s garden
The world around me
Has been reborn
Roses surround me
Their sweetness bathes the air
But I find it hard to care
So I retreat to my cocoon
My lonely lightless room
I wish I could butterfly
Into someone rare
Widen my eyes
To take in more beauty
Sharpen my senses
To feel more acutely
But always for some reason
Darkness calls

The garden will
From time to time
Lure me out again
But not to cherish roses
Only, yes, their stems
And every day that passes
Is a day
I don’t love petals
Every day that passes
Is a day I’m not reborn
And every day that passes
I feel forced
To wonder why
I’m always, always, always
Drawn to thorns

About this poem

Sometimes, sadness wins out. Maybe too often for too many.

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Written on May 24, 2022

Submitted by DougHaberman on May 24, 2022

Modified on April 09, 2023

38 sec read
68

Quick analysis:

Scheme abcbddxxedxbfbax xxxfxGxxgcGxexx
Closest metre Iambic trimeter
Characters 653
Words 127
Stanzas 2
Stanza Lengths 16, 15

Doug Haberman

Retired high school humanities teacher who loves to write song lyrics. Now trying my hand at poetry writing. more…

All Doug Haberman poems | Doug Haberman Books

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1 Comment
  • lorna_j
    This poem touches on the harsh realities of life even while trying to find beauty among thorns. It depicts the constant effort to find air when all around seems stifling. Yet, it is the glimmer of hope that leaves me longing to hear more from this author. 
    LikeReply1 year ago

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"Roses and Thorns" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 29 Mar. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/129366/roses-and-thorns>.

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"My candle burns at both ends; It will not last the night."
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