The two roses

The two roses

By May Kwek

I held two roses in my hand

Both red and in full bloom

Both smelled as sweet as the morning

As soft as silk from heaven’s loom

Both spoke of hopes and dreams

Of wonders and possibilities

Yet when I held them up to the sun

Some differences I could see

For one had petals bent one way

And the other did not

One had green leaves a plenty

The other didn’t have a lot

The red for one seemed bolder

The other slightly pale

As a messenger of life and dreams

Perform better it seemed one will

Yet as I held both to my chest

Could I consider the other deficient?

For God made each rose bloom

And he made each one different

Copyright © 2016 by May Kwek

Seasons of promise

Seasons of promise

By May Kwek

When spring touched the sky this year

I gave you a daisy fair

Small and slight though it was

It was tended with loving care

It swayed gaily in the spring breeze

Laughed in joy at the sun

With the fullness of youth and innocence

Of a life just begun

But spring blossomed into summer

And cares the daisy fades

So I gave you a lily white

As a gentle wish instead

It bloomed with the season

Shone like snow in the sun

As pure and as sweet from the beginning

Till its time was done

But I would not have you mourn dear heart

For the summer past, never forgotten

So I gave you an Iris bright

As summer burned into autumn

It was as violet as the heart of the sea

Quiet and sedate

Yet burning at the centre

With hope, wisdom and faith

It grew strong and true

Till the last flame of autumn fell

Then it was pressed into a book

To be kept safe and well

And as winter’s biting cold blew in

I placed the last pink carnation in your hand

As a promise honoured and true

I’ll never forget you, my friend

Copyright © 2016 by May Kwek