LIFE IS NOT A BED OF ROSES

I HAVE BEEN TOLD FROM TIME TO TIME.

YET, AS I SIT HERE BY THOSE ROSES

THIS IS NOT WHAT I FIND

WHEN ONE LOOKS AT A ROSEBUSH

JUST GLANCING FROM AFAR

AND SEES THOSE ROSES BLOOMING

IT SEEMES NOTHING DOES THEM MAR

THEN, IF YOU BEND DOWN CLOSELY

THE ROSE YOU DO QUITE MISS

FOR MANY THORNS SURROUND IT

WHAT CAN BE STUNNING ABOUT THIS?

YET, IF YOU ARE OF THOSE

WHO THEN STEPS BACK A BIT

YOU’LL REALISE THAT THOSE THORNS

DON’T HURT THE ROSE, BUT RATHER, PROTECT IT

A PATIENT AND PRACTICED GARDNER

CAN REACH BETWEEN THOSE THORNS

AND AWAY WITH HIM TAKE

THE FLOWER HE HAS SHORN

AND EVEN WHILST THE GARDNER

TAKES AWAY HIS FLOWER

THE ROSE BUSH STANDS ON PROUD

GIVING PLEASURE TO THE SOUR

LIFE IS NO GARDEN OF ROSES

I’VE BEEN TOLD, WITHOUT PARDON

THOUGH NOW I HOLD QUITE DIFFERENTLY

AFTER PAUSING IN THAT GARDEN

LIFE HAS MANY ROSES

WE CAN’T LOSE TRACK OF THEM

THOUGH, THORNS DO SEEM TO MAR THESE

WHEN THEM YOU TRY TO SIEZE

IF YOU STAND BACK MOMENARILY

PAUSING NOW TO THINK

YOU’LL REALISE THAT THOSE THORNS

ARE WHAT KEEP THE FLOWERS PINK

THEN IF WITH PATIENCE

YOU REACH BETWEEN THE THORNS

YOU CAN TAKE WITH YOU A FLOWER

TO KEEP AS A GIFT FOR HOME

THE ROSE GARDEN WILL REMAIN

WITH ITS PLEASURE AND ITS PAIN

BUT, IF YOU ARE LUCKY,

ITS MESSAGE WILL REMAIN