Devotional Poetry

Colors of the Rose: A Metaphor

Colors of the Rose:
A Metaphor

How came about the colors of the rose?
When conceived in Eden there was only one
pigment to offset its verdant leaves,
and no thorns to scar the hands of love.

How came about the colors of the rose:
The shades of red, yellow, brown, black, and white,
that reflect evolution's light;
How came the barbs that scar the hands of love?

How came about the colors of the rose:
Created to absorb the light of God,
a black rose bloomed beneath the firmament;
And wept when it couldn't reflect love's light.
Where its tears fell upon Eden's soil
the white rose grew.

How came about the colors of the rose:
Created to reflect the light of God,
a white rose bloomed in the dawn,
and wept because it couldn't bleed.
Where its tears fell upon Eden's soil
the red rose grew.

How came about the colors of the rose:
created to reflect the martyrs' blood,
a red rose bloomed in the noon-day sun;
and wept when it couldn't shine.
Where i ts tears fell upon Eden's soil
the yellow rose grew.

How came about the colors of the rose:
created to reflect matter's sun,
a yellow rose bloomed in the rich brown soil;
and wept because it couldn't find faith.
Where its tears fell upon Eden's soil
the brown rose grew.

How came about the colors of the rose:
created to reflect the soil of faith,
a brown rose bloomed near the garden's edge;
And wept because it couldn't find love.
Where its tears fell upon Eden's soil
the multi-colored thorned rose grew.

Poet's Note: ▼

I wrote this in 152 B.E. The inspiration was the scriptures revealed by Baha'u'llah and roses.