Once upon a time long ago, a rose tree <br />Grew lustily in my Ma's bed, tended <br />And fed, how it bloomed, and it's red, when seen <br />Would colour her soul - - fragranced and blended <br />With the Plain's western light, it shone. Her lover <br />Planted the tree, wanting to show her his <br />Pioneer heart, he chose this rose above <br />Any sweet scented other, and, mission <br />Accomplished he went to sea, but asked Ma <br />To talk to that flower once he had gone. Shyly <br />She told it how lonely she felt, and seeing <br />The rose thriving she decided to try <br />Helping her unborn to benefit too. <br />So daily she severed one fragile petal <br />And crushed it over the place where viewing <br />Was hidden by delicate skin, settled <br />With ritual, I safely arrived. Rose <br />I was named. When war took my Pa ere long <br />Both baby and rosebush fell sick. Panic close, <br />Ma plucked the last petal and held it among <br />Tiny fingers until they lost sickly hue <br />And blue became pink. Rose rallied soon <br />And that petal remained ever fresh too. <br />More than that, overnight the rose tree bloomed <br />And never was time when flower was gone <br />From that rose bush, and the legend lived on. <br /> <br />The tale of the Pioneer Rose just grew <br />Most homesteaders now believe it was true<br /><br />Fay Slimm<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/a-pioneering-rose/
