Roses & Violets: February 13-20, 2025
Write a poem or poems that start with the line “Roses are red, violets are blue” - the more creative you go from there, the better.
The Submissions:
by The Kilsigliere
The blues rose.
Facing each other
Red lipped
Chapped
We are here, anyway.
Violet times
Violent times
Signs raised, because what else would we do?
Home in our warm beds, warm homes, beds.
Missing each other
Missing every third word, at least half the orders
Have you risen?
your fist, clutches a small bouquet
red blue blooded American, blood, pop, pomp and circumstance.
This parade.
A violet desire to speak.
Silent streak.
Ashes, we all fall down.
by Captain Quillard
Roses are red, violets are blue
and because we are all so desperate for something
beautiful and good and poetic
in this world,
so hungry for a sign that love
still exists,
you don’t even notice that I’ve just lied to your face
seeing as roses come
in a great many colors, in point of fact, and
a violet is not so much
blue
as it is, well, violet, I suppose, but what good
is the truth if it doesn’t rhyme and what use
are facts that don’t conjure
romantic platitudes
to comfort and console, placate
and distract, to
gaslight us into disbelieving our own
lying eyes and seeing colors
that aren’t really there,
to lull us
into feeling like everything is
fine and normal and just and
not worth paying much
attention to, living our lives
in the comfort of a soothing rhyme,
unaware that the poem itself
is a lie – stuck, starry-eyed at the romance of it all, while
Ruses are read, violence ensues
by Anonymous Frau Redux
Roses are red, I am not at home.
Saw the email to send in a poem.
Roses are red, dandelions are fuzzy petals of yellow.
Today I’m cold and I grew up way north of here in Buffalo.
Roses are red, a summer sunset does glow.
It’s too damn cold, dreaming of green grass to mow.
Roses are red, a cat has kittens.
Glad I can knit, currently wearing my mittens.
Roses are red, I enjoy a good pun.
Thank you Captain for suggesting this fun.
Next Week’s Assignment:
Using pencil or pen, sketch a scene from your current favorite TV show - preferably a scene iconic enough to easily identify which show you are sketching.