Critical Analysis #1 |
The Roses |
Astraea Member
since 1999-11-09
Posts 378California! Yeah! Okay, I'm done now |
They say we are individuals I say that they are wrong They say we are each our own person I say that may not be so They say I'm a loner And I can say nothing Walking aroung, tirelessly aching Smiling a smile that never touches my heart Laughing a laugh that never reaches my spirit And living a life I was loathe to live They say I was morbid Who are they to judge? I saw her crying, face buried in her hands I felt my compassion rising, despite what I knew So I walked over, like the ghost of contentment I was And asked her what was wrong They say that I take advantage What do they ever know? She sobbed and stumbled, blushing her confusion I laughed a true laugh and saw her smile softly Trembling like a rabbit in the sight of a lone wolf She told me the story They say I never listen But when are they ever there? Her heart was bleeding, her life shattered She didn't want to go on living since there was nothing in her life She burbled and cried, tears falling down her face Telling me she would refuse to listen to anything I would say They say I have no heart Why would they even care? I looked at her strangely and she waited for some contempt For surely I would condemn her thoughts of surrendering without a fight But I smiled at her, if a bit sadly And said to her "How can you think that you could leave this place now? What right do you have to steal yourself away from people who love you? For if we stopped at every thorn We would never reach the roses." She looked at me in shock, the anguish slowly leaving And before she could say a word, I left The breeze whispering forever in my ear: thank you The next day she was there, smiling proudly and strong I know she will cry again, she told me later, But she would never forget the time I told her That she would never reach the true beauty life had If she stopped for every pit And then she handed me a rose and called me a name I did not expect It was sweet, soft and thrilling The word was friend They say I am morbid Maybe this is true They say that I take advantage Perhaps they have not seen They say I never listen And that I have no heart Well I say that I was merely waiting Until I can see the roses "Sometimes stars can only be seen in darkness." "Sorrow's crown of sorrow is remembering happier things." |
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© Copyright 1999 Tiffany - All Rights Reserved | |||
Songbird Member Elite
since 1999-12-15
Posts 2184Missouri |
This was beautiful, I especially like these two lines, For if we stopped at every thorn We would never reach the roses. Apparently "they" don't know the sensitive person, sweet person that lives inside. |
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dispatch debbie Junior Member
since 1999-12-29
Posts 16Michigan |
Astraea, Here and there I lost myself with the lack of punctuation but that's only me. Extremely touching and personal, as family member not so long ago committed suicide. Expresses so well the aspect of how we see others, how they see us and unselfish reaching out. Thank you for the opportunity to read this. Debbie Treat others the way you wish to be treated. |
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roxane Senior Member
since 1999-09-02
Posts 505us |
the first stanza had me thinking that i wasn't going to like this poem, but i have to say that i like it rather well. especially the characters. they are developed so clearly. i also like the description and emotion behind the word friend. that is truly touching. i think however that the last stanza should be reworked. it makes it sound as if the narrator is selfish, which we know is untrue. They say I am morbid Maybe this is true They say that I take advantage Perhaps they have not seen They say I never listen And that I have no heart Well I say that I was merely waiting Until I can see the roses my point is that i don't think that the narrator did see the roses. rather, he proved that he wasn't morbid, or heartless. that's what i think should be better demonstrated. the repition of the first few lines is wonderful. overall, great poem. |
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patchoulipumpkin Member
since 2000-01-01
Posts 196Bermuda |
I thought this was really beautiful. I haven't anything constructive to say, except i really enjoyed it. brilliant writing. |
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warmhrt Senior Member
since 1999-12-18
Posts 1563 |
The first time I read this, I thought I didn't like it. However, I took the time to really read it, and I loved it. I especially liked the "ghost of contentment", and the roses and thorns stanza. This painted pictures for me, and brought back some long forgotten memories. Good work! warmhrt |
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