Rose

 


The Rose

Original artwork and light-hearted poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025

Édith Piaf broke your heart with ‘La Vie en rose’
Rather than compete, I’ll try... umm, ‘autre chose’
The rose has captivated humans since the dawn of age
Iconic Marie Antoinette with a Rose became  quite the rage
The Tudor Rose blossomed at the end of the 100 Years' War
Joining Lancaster's Red with York's White forevermore
In Ireland, Little Black Rose was Róisín Dubh of rebellion
In the Wild West, it was a sultry woman on a black stallion 
‘Ring a Ring o' Roses’ ain’t about the Black Plague at all
'Tis but a rhyme about kids holding hands before they fall
For Gertrude Stein, a rose is a rose - that’s her deal
Now you are ‘sub rosa’, therefore, your lips are sealed

Cross-references

  • Click here to listen to the live performance by Edith Piaf - her voice is raw, passionate, and deeply emotive, not just with technical skill but with the vulnerability of someone who had lived through love, loss, and hardship. Released in post-World War II France (1945), the song offered a hopeful, dreamy escape during a time of national recovery and emotional fatigue.
  • Click here for a write-up on the artist who painted Marie Antoinette with a rose.
  • Click here to read about significant historical facts about the War of the Roses
  • Click here to understand the Irish sentiments on Little Black Rose aka Róisín Dubh
  • Click here to read about the myth behind 'Ring a ring a roses'
  • Click here to read an analysis of Gertrude Stein's poem

Comments

Anonymous said…
Stunning!💗
One day, I aspire to have at least 2 hrs a day to myself & my little paper squares & art supplies….. (WhatsApp comment from a very artistic friend who does poetic postcard-style water sketches)
July 3, 2025 at 8:16 AM
Kieran said…
It’s called retirement. You get to do what you love to do, when you like to do with the people you chose. 😇 - Kieran
July 3, 2025 at 8:16 AM
Anonymous said…
Umm, got me thinking about roses... the holy ones
Rose of Sharon
Rose of St Rita
Yellow roses at Mary's feet (st bernadette)
St Therese little flower (WhatsApp comment from a relative who knows I have a deep faith)
July 3, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Kieran said…
True. Also the white rose of Our Lady, which traditionally symbolizes virginity, purity, innocence, especially in her title as the Immaculate Conception. - Kieran
July 3, 2025 at 8:20 AM
Anonymous said…
Oh, that's beautiful!!! Also the song by Nana Mouskouri, "When the White Rose Blooms Again"... visit https://youtu.be/mRpMCG5Wjck?feature=shared (WhatsApp comment from an artistic friend)
July 3, 2025 at 8:25 AM
Kieran said…
Thanks, Ajay. I learned something new today. That’s the beauty of this exercise, I learn as much as I share. - Kieran
July 3, 2025 at 8:25 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Blue Bird

Image
My homage to Azulejos - the striking white and blue ceramic tiles of Portugal.  The name 'azulejos' is derived from the Arabic word 'al zuleique', which means “little polished stone”. The tiles were originally brought to Europe by invading Moors in the 13th century - a style that employs flowing lines, stars, flowers, foliage, fruits and sometimes animal and figural outlines to produce an intricate pattern of interlaced lines that can be tiled in endless combinations.   The art and history of azulejos have left an indelible mark on Portuguese culture and heritage. These vibrant and intricate tiles have adorned buildings, churches, and public spaces for centuries, captivating the eyes and hearts of locals and visitors alike.  The enduring legacy of Portuguese tile-making is a testament to the skill, creativity, and craftsmanship of the artisans who have dedicated themselves to this art form throughout history. This is one of my compositions inspired by a window decal at...
Read more

Pope Leo

Image
  Pope Leo XIV On Thursday, May 8, 2025, the Conclave of 133 Roman Catholic Cardinals elected a new Pope for 1.4 billion faithful, the  267th in the line of Pontiffs that dates back to St Peter, who was handpicked by Jesus Christ himself. [ Matthew 16:18 ] Before he was elected Pope Leo XIV, Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Frost Prevost spent  much of his life outside the United States. Ordained in Rome in 1982 at age 27, he received a doctorate in canon law at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, also in Rome.  For the past two decades he was a missionary in Chilayco, Peru, serving as a parish priest, seminary teacher, and diocesan official.  Here he also became a naturalized citizen, then rose to lead his international religious community, the Order of St. Augustine. Under Pope Francis, he held one of the most influential Vatican posts, running the office that selects and manages bishops globally. His deep connection to Latin America helped him gain a...
Read more

Pentecost

Image
 The Feast of Pentecost Think of the Feast of Pentecost as the first birthday of the Church ... because that's the day the Holy Spirit descended on the Faithful to remain permanently and unfailingly till the end of time, guiding the Faithful to carry the Gospel to the ends of the world as Christ's disciples. Liturgy of the Pentecost In Acts of the Apostles 1:4-8 , the risen Lord Jesus instructed the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father, the Holy Spirit. Jesus explained that they would be baptised with the Holy Spirit not many days from now (1:5) and they would receive power to be Christ’s witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the Earth (1:8). In Acts of the Apostles 2:1-11 , St Luke, the author of Acts of the Apostles, methodically lists all the nations encircling Israel starting from the East to the West to show Jews from every nation had gathered (probably for the Festival of Harvest ) when th...
Read more