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Climbing Rose

Oh rose! You cling and climb with flair

A seedling, grown in early prime,

Parading beauty shines in air.

Oh rose! You cling and climb with flair

Attracting critters flying near

In morning, noon and even time!

Oh rose! You cling and climb with flair

A seedling grown in early prime.

“Climbing Rose” takes the form of a triolet with a rhyme scheme abaAabAB.

The triolet is a short poem consisting of a stanza of eight tetrameter verses. A tetrameter verse measures 4 metrical feet. A stanza of eight verses is called an octave. The triolet is particularly pleasing because of certain traits about it. The roots of this form date back from medieval French poets. The earliest written form of this petite poem goes back to the late 13th Century. The earliest known forms of the triolet composed in English were written by Patrick Carey, the Benedictine monk, who it is said used them in his religious activities. When analyzing the triolet there are two essential things in its nature. Firstly, the naturalness of the refrain verses, and secondly the alteration of the refrains meaning. The triolet is a reasonably rare form. However, its terse nature is a good start for new poets. The triolet is used more than anything in cards and love letters because its short beauty makes it a perfect gift.

One of the many instances in the Bible where the rose flower is mentioned is found in the Song of Solomon 2:1 says; I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.

Rose flowers grow in many different colors; red roses and bi-color roses are among my favorite flowers. In any beautiful garden rose flowers are to be found. Roses are beloved garden flowers and a symbol of affection and honor for a wide range of human events, both celebratory and somber. One of the oldest plants under human cultivation, all modern roses derive some part of their DNA from one or more of eight rose species that were native to Europe and Asia. All roses fall into one of three form classifications, being either bush, climbing or shrub roses. However, more than two centuries of breeding and hybridizing have served to produce many thousands of rose species and cultivars, each with a unique mix of characteristics. They have strong links in antiquity.

In ancient history it is purported that Romans out did the Greeks when Nero, the hedonistic emperor, 1st Century AD, dumped tons of rose petals on their dinner guests.  Cleopatra had her living quarters filled with the petals of roses, so that Marc Anthony would always think of her when she was not around him. Also, those affluent women in Rome used rose petals much like currency, for they believed that rose petals could banish wrinkles if used in poultices. Rose petals were often dropped in wine, because they thought that essence from rose petals would stave off drunkenness.

The red rose figured prominently in the “War of the Roses” fought in England during the 15th Century. The Nobles of York rose against Henry VI of Lancaster who was considered to be a feeble ruler. The War of the Roses” was a civil war in England that lasted from 1455-1487. The House of York adopted the white rose; the House of Lancaster decided to take a red rose. Tudor Henry VII merged his Lancastrian rose with the red rose of his York bride and thus created the Tudor Rose, the Rose of England.

The rose is the official flower of the United States of America. There is a section in the White House called the Rose Garden. It is adjacent to the Oval office and the West Wing. Ellen Louise Wilson first established this garden in 1913 and it was renovated during the Kennedy administration. The Rose Garden is the site of many formal and informal events and was the location for Tricia Nixon’s wedding in 1971.  Tricia Nixon Cox is the eldest daughter of 37th President of the United States of America, Richard Nixon and First Lady Patricia Nixon. Here is a picture of the bride and her father in the Rose Garden.

Click on this link for video tour of the Rose Garden.