Thread: Blue Roses

The red dress flows in smooth ripples,
a white tiara adorns her hair.
The soft sunlight shines in her eyes,
a myriad of roses at her feet.

Subtle feelings contained,
on her wedding she holds
blue roses in her hands,
and permits the tears to fall.

Conveying mood with colour is a very well established practice, but in a poem so simple if colour is to add depth it really needs to offer more complexity. I think the starkness of white/red/blue doesn't have the imagery that is needed to interweave emotions into a poem like this. Maybe by giving the colours more verbal vibrance (if you like), the who poem could be elevated into something much more emotive.

I thought this was a very lovely and tender portrait - like a poignant and sensitive photograph, conveying subtle emotions
---todd

Thank you Todd and Blue Ape for your feedback.
What I like about the poem is how it can have two totally opposite meanings. I'm waiting for someone to interpret the actual meaning behind it.

I am most likely waaaay off the mark here---but I have a strong visual image of a Bride, standing at her fallen soldier's flag draped casket, holding a bouquet of roses ...

Haha I like how you interpreted too. Okay I'm gonna say it, I'm excited (sorry, my first poem this way)

white -- symbolises peace, tranquility on one hand / surrender or mourning on the other
red -- passion / rage
soft sunlight -- dawn, new beginning in her life / dusk, permanent night
blue -- life of royalty / life of gloom

The whole poem's this way. I know poets don't usually give the interpretation themselves, but I had a childish excitement for this. *innocent smile*



Of course, there could be other interpretations too. This is just my take on it.






EDIT:

For those interested, I've discovered that blue roses actually hold a meaning in literature.
The symbol of the blue rose is mystery and longing to attain the impossible. Some cultures go so far as to say that the holder of a blue rose will have his wishes granted (I can't help but notice that I'm the one holding the roses here). In Chinese folklore, the blue rose symbolizes hope for unattainable love.


More info:

• The blue rose meaning comes from its very non-existence and the longing for its presence in the world of flora. The flower symbolizes something that is unattainable or impossible. It represents something whose fate is determined to remain as a dream and as a never-to-be-fulfilled wish. Some people regard the blue rose meaning as the exhibition of inner feelings of love at first sight. When defined from the streams of love, it is a synonym for an impossible or unrequited love. While some cultures associate the blue rose with royal blood; regal majesty and splendor.

• Accomplishing the impossible, fighting all odds and new beginnings can also be represented by the blue rose meaning. When we tread on a path which has an untold, unexplained beginning, our heart is filled with feelings and waves which fall short of words to be described. Such an excitement can also be expressed through a blue rose.
  

I will take a stab at the two meanings:
either she is crying tears of joy before walking down the aisle to wed the love of her life or
it is an arranged marriage wherein there is no love at all -
---todd

Todd, it's the story of my life and I'm not married yet, and I'm not sure how it will be (will happen soon though). You are spot-on with both the meanings.

Stunning! congrats on a complex, wonderful poem!

Thank you, means a lot.

"With a curve on her lips" generally puts the piece in the 'happy' department for me. I only got to read it once, before I got to your explanation, but I didn't catch on the double meanings. I think if you want them to show more easily, the piece should be written in a more neutral way! As in your general word choice are tilting it in the direction of 'happy' or 'beautiful'. As such the double meanings come off more as a hidden layer one would need personally to relate to. As you say, it's the story of your life!

Otherwise, when I read it, the very romantic and beautiful descriptions, were so perfect, that it had me thinking of the superficiality the wedding institution often symbolizes to me. But that's definitely my personal transliteration.

Either way I think your flow and phrasing are really well done and I unlike The Blue Ape enjoyed the simple use of colors. I often use them much in the same way like you've just done. Colors simply hold lots of meaning if one care to look.

When I read the poem, it shows more of the sad side to me, maybe because of the submission depicted by the white and the tears falling. I've tried tweaking it a bit, but my mind just stopped there, totally numb. The "curve on the lips" is the only part which is more of a giveaway. Thanks for reading and for your feedback. I'll try rewriting, though I doubt I'll be successful, this was painful to write.

P.S.: Before this gets out of control, when I said "the story of my life", I meant I'm not sure whether I'll be truly happy on my wedding. That's what the poem depicts. Todd was right in a sense, but I didn't want to explain myself. I know it'll be an arranged marriage for sure.

I think you should keep it as it is. A poem doesn't have to reveal specific intentions at all times. It holds great meaning to you, because you are in a certain situation. For me it held perfect meaning in another sense. Most importantly, you wrote this with emotion, and that really showed.

Thanks for sharing.

-Martin

Oh dear, I'm not with this one at all, it feels a bit too arch to me. She must have raided a Japanese laboratory to get herself a blue rose...

Martin, thanks again. Still, the bride's wearing red now so it feels more liken an Indian wedding.

Bloggsworth, haha yeah it does sound unusual. But if painters can use their imagination, why can't poets get carried away to express themselves? Does it sound wrong?