A Rose: The Endurance of Beauty

A rose is a special gift with which this world was blessed,

Although it’s just a flower it differs from the rest.

It’s known as nature’s ultimate beauty and allure,

Yes, the rose represents splendor that will endure.

Yet amongst sharp and piercing thorns, it grows,

Thorns which are likely to tear apart the delicate rose.

They are close at hand and threaten to overcome,

Still the rose is strong, to the thorns it won’t succumb.

Uninfluenced, unharmed by the roughness that surrounds.

Amongst the treacherous thorns, the rose is crowned,

It’s a rose in essence, and that will never change,

Despite the various challenges, a rose it will remain.

We are compared to roses, our essence, so very pure,

And just like the roses, our splendor can and will endure.

Often faced with thorn-like challenges that might hurt,

We, like the precious rose, will always rise above the dirt.

Remaining uninfluenced by the words that others might say,

We will not allow thorns threaten to take our beauty away.

Though they might surround us and tempt us to change,

We are strong; our graciousness is not to be exchanged.

Choosing to remain exquisite, both inside and out,

We stay strong and focused on what our mission is about:

All our talents and energies, we will continue to give,

To change the world into a more beautiful place to live!

(Written February 20, 2008)

Dedicated to my roses - my students,

may you continue to blossom and bring much beauty to the world.

Written in appreciation to those who taught me how to endure the thorns.

Dedicated to the future,

in which I will (continue to) focus on the roses/beauty in life.