Our love is not from petals born
the rose might bloom a day or three
though lovely it still carry thorns
while lust is prickly strength is key,
cause passion can be fragile, snap
and wither like like a bough in fall.
The house of roses is a trap —
we need mortar, bricks to build a wall.
Our love should be a fortress, strong
to stand against both hail and storm,
a place of comfort can’t be wrong
this hearth of love will keep us warm.
The Soul of the Rose by John William Waterhouse
I wrote this for Kerry at toads, inspired by the “Binding with briars” from William Blake. I used all the twelve lines to write four quatrains. I will also link up to Poetry Pantry tomorrow morning.
With that why not some classic 80’s rock
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Björn Rudbergs writings 
Love needs to be more than roses… I love this. It makes me think of my husband and I. We have been married 47 years. Beautiful writing
Gorgeous, gorgeous rhyming in this one, Bjorn! 😀 Beautifully penned.❤️
I love the last stanza. It is so true. A warming hearth of love. Very sweet and in a good way.
How lovely!
Yes, indeed! Love should be a strong fortress withstanding everything that comes from outside. Your poem expresses this so well, Bjorn.
Wonderful work on these beautifully rhymed quatrains. And that close on the warming hearth of love ~ sigh ~ (though unwritten) one’s mind immediately juxtaposes that line against the blazing fires of passion. .A brilliant, cleverly rendered, metaphor.
A nice different direction from Blake’s.
A beautiful poem, wrapped in such a perfect use of form.
A gorgeous poem, Bjorn! I love the non-comparison with a rose, especially the second stanza:.
‘…passion can be fragile, snap
and wither like like a bough in fall.
The house of roses is a trap —
we need mortar, bricks to build a wall’.
the opening line is so strong..
I love the final two lines.
kaykuala
Our love should be a fortress, strong
to stand against both hail and storm,
Love is always put to test and invariably wins each time. Great rhyming Bjorn!
Hank
“The house of roses is a trap — / we need mortar, bricks to build a wall” rocked for me.
Our love should be a fortress…with emphasis on the word ‘should’. Sometimes the weakness is within the walls themselves. A pensive piece, Bjorn.
Roses are one thing but I love this line “The house of roses is a trap —
we need mortar, bricks to build a wall…” Got me thinking…
One of my favourites of yours, Bjorn. I love the format, rhythm and rhyme, and the message is so true. Beautifully done!
A most enjoyable read
My Father loved roses…I will accept that, for he loved me too.
I love these lines:
Our love should be a fortress, strong
to stand against both hail and storm,
a place of comfort can’t be wrong
this hearth of love will keep us warm.
That’s what love’s supposed to be. You’ve penned it so well, Bjorn.
Such innocent love sprawling in this poem, one of your best work!!
“this hearth of love will keep us warm.”…This is lovely and home of devotion.
this is the song of a minstrel – such lyrical rhymes
How love should ideally be is so eloquently described in this poem. You have used the word ‘snap’ so effectively in there. Love the image too
True love does confront and overcomes many storms. (My 49th wedding anniversary is approaching.) I like your poetic statement of this.
Indeed love is no flitting thing. Beautifully told Bjorn.
You handle the form so well–I feels fresh and vibrant
Love the lines as they sing like a song of love….beautiful, poignant opening and closing.
A fortress and a warm hearth…the two sides of unconditional love.
Sweet and lovely.
Strong, too.
namaste
JzB
Everyone needs the warmth of love. Blessed are those who find it.
Ah, such truth in what you say. Passion so fleeting; love so sturdy. Great write, Bjorn.
Very wise – romance is nice, but we need reality too 🙂
I love the rhyme and the overall theme here.