The Rose and the Fly

"I love you not." says the rose to the fly.

"You are dirty and ugly and I wish you to die.

For you blacken my petals and tear my green leaves

Why don't you step on my thorn
And cut deep and bleed.

Or better yet, change to a bee
So majestic and strong.

The bee knows my worth
He prunes me all the day long.

The bee sees my gold,
Tastes my honey so true.

Dear fly you see nothing
Only dirt just like you.

I want my dirt hidden,
Out of plain sight

And when you come so near
My dirt becomes bright.

I want to be clean, so pure, so red.

So go fly, shoo now.
You're better off dead."

The fly heard these words
Saw her scorn and her fire

He loved her now more
As he felt her desire

So long she had stood
So tall and up-kept

But the fly knew there was more
She's been holding her breath.

"The bee does not love you."
Says the fly to the rose,

"Bee only loves beauty
Red polish and pose.

Yes I see your dirt
And I love you deep still

When your fire wilts your petals
Stay the bee? Never will.

Just a fly dark and dirty
Not gleaming nor strong

But I'll love you and stay with you
All my life long.

My friends they leave me
My family scorns

But you, I love you
Even with your great thorns.

Your dirt is so clean
Yes its scary for you

But with my love and devotion
You'll find yourself new."

And the rose pondered this
Thought of her dirt and her bee.

Could this fly be so true?
Will he always love me?

The bee is so strong
But his expectations are cruel

And to live a life of a queen rose
Is the role of a fool.

"I'm sorry dear fly
My words so filled with hurt.

Forgive me my words
and I'll forgive you your dirt.

Be with me when I can no longer stand tall,
When my petals get limp and down they all fall.

When my fiery words bring out lashes galore
Stay with me dear fly
For with you I feel more.

You let me feel anger, desire, and pain.
Freed from the prison of plain beauty I'm no longer restrained."

So the fly and the rose sat together
side by side

Through the sun and the rain
They laughed and they cried.

The strong lonely bee came by every once in a while,
But the rose and the fly just knowingly smiled.

For the fires within, the gold and the dirt
Are no match for love when we forgive others our hurt.