"The Rose"

A representation of love.

An ambassador of peace.

A symbol of an empire.

An icon of  champions.

To this day it still amazes me

How a rose can be all these thing,

Yet it still gets tossed to the side.

To wilt away forgotten in the gutter.

I pluck this once mighty rose out

From its watery, roadside grave.

I examine it and begin to smile

For one petal has refused to fade.

This rose is too stubborn to go quietly

Clinging on to the last remaining petal.

I gently put the rose in my coat pocket,

And make my way over to the hospital.

I make my way to one particular room

The room where my lovely Rose lays.

I gently wake her by kissing her cheek

She opens her eyes and smiles at me.

I say nothing and hand her the flower.

She looks at me; I motion her to be quiet.

“Like you, this rose refuses to let go

Still showing the world what it was

And how much it still has to offer

For that, I will always love you

Alas, my dearest Rose, like this rose

There is a time you must let go

Today is that day, my loving wife

I have returned to take you away

So once again we can be together

And live in a much better place

A place where our love will never end”

With tears in her eyes, she replies,

“As long as I'm with you once more

I don't care where we will end up

As long as I'm in your loving arms

I waited for this day with all my heart

That I will get to be with my husband”

 With that, the petal falls off the rose,

And my loving wife stops breathing.

I cry as I watch her succumb to death.

I stop when I feel her hand on me.

I turn around and hug her deeply.

My arms have longed to hold her again.

Once again, my Rose as at my side.

Heaven is now for me truly a heaven

For we will be together for all eternity.