SHADOW OF A ROSE
On Old McKenzie’s trellis near the outskirts of town
Held a prize flourishing, not quite showing its crown
A cloudburst of rain at just the right hour
In a moonlit night gave away with the power
From twilight until dawn, the rose slowly glowed
Jubilation upon morning when it’s beauty showed
Mr. McKenzie was up early and spotted its glory
This begins the passage of the special rose’s story:
No florist would lay a hand on the rose
No market would even get a sniff with their nose
The bountiful rose had a healing quality
Old McKenzie said it was one for humanity
The rose made a journey to the hospital ward
Everyone that passed remarked on the rose each adored
A man had no family, no friends, and thought he would die,
But as he saw the rose from Old McKenzie he let out a sigh.
“This rose is called charity, and it’s my gift to you,”
McKenzie told him, “a perfect rose, so far and few”
The man thanked him but said it would be a waste
For the rose to die there in that dreadful place
Old McKenzie said goodbye and left it at that
So there next to the man the rose of charity sat
The hospital staff came and went admiring the rose,
While there in the shadows was “the man no one knows”
The healing comfort, the feeling of love’s beauty,
Started curing the man, as was the rose’s duty
He left the ward smiling, taking with him the flower
Leaving completely healed, he felt love’s special power
The time in the ward gave him thoughts of a master plan:
To build back our fortress, our nation, this was our man
The soldiers came home safely with their abilities
Old McKenzie said the rose was one for humanity
By: Nuala Molloy Moran c 01/01/2008
(I worked for hospitals for 17 years and I am still in healthcare)
Photo: Google Free Images Giant Rose – Rosa Blu
