Father's Roses

Cherry
Poem of the week

By Jane Hyphen

Thu, 25 Jun 2026
  • 489 reads
12 comments
 

 

Roses.

He only grew roses.

There was no middle ground, 

only spikes and saturation;

mad and clashing.

He had no truck

with fragile, wilting blooms.

Transient and charged,

he made us sick

on vivid summer days

with endless bursts.

He liked it best

when there was no air

and everyone felt used.

 

We were consumed

by the potency, and drunk

on the prospect 

of piercing euphoria.

And later the sting

of lots of little cuts.

He rooted deep but

we grew too, tall enough 

to reach the tools

to cut him down.

He grew back stronger

but he always needed

so much support.

 

Thornless now in our memories,

we will not dig him up.

 

Certificate U
Poem

Comments

Submitted by insertponceyfre... on

Wonderfully dark Jane - in fact, it's amazing how dark you can go in a U rating and how you don't need all the graphics to get there. I think this is much more effective

 

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

Thank you Insert. U is for underworld. Too much graphic stuff can turn a good story into a cartoon - sometimes. 

 

Submitted by celticman on

ha, but you have dug him up. 

 

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

Oh no, he's still warm too. Thank you, celticman. 

 

Submitted by marandina on

A layered poem with depth and inner meaning.

This is our Poem of the Week.

Congratulations!

I have added a pic to promote your work on social media. Please let me know if you prefer to use something else.

The source is: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rose_Bushes_Blossoming_(9106089205).jpg

 

 

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

Thank you so much, Paul.

 

Submitted by airyfairy on

There's a lot of passion and a lot of wisdom in this. I loved reading it, but it also made me uncomfortable, and I mean that as a compliment. One that stays with the reader.

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

Thanks airyfairy, for reading and your comment too.smiley

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Your roses poems are unforgettable, the trauma

 

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

Thanks Di, I get so much out of the roses. I'm sure there's more in there too.

 

Submitted by Mark Say on

... but I like how it is turned around into something more positive. Very good Jane.

 

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

Thank you, Mark.