The Rose

“A Rose, by any other name, is still a Rose.” The Grape Hyacinths kept singing it over and over, “a Rose, by any other name, is still a Rose.” “Doesn’t it make you sick, hearing that verse over and over,” replied the Cyclamen. The Daffodils joined the Cyclamen in protest of all the attention going to the Rose. “Aren’t we the harbingers of Spring,” shouted the Crocus and no one says, “a Crocus, by any other name, is still a Crocus.” 1

By this time the whole flower garden was into the debate. The Yarrow was yelling which  made the Wisteria weep. Indian Hawthorne harped about being neglected and Tulips turned their leaves away from the heated debate. All the while, the Euonymus egged the debate on. “Why all the fuss,” shouted the Resurrection Lilies? The other flowers chimed in and said, “the Rose gets all the attention and we get little to none.” The Resurrection Lilies said, “so what. Why are you concerned about the Rose? Each of you have your own purpose, beauty, and life span. Just do what you’re created for and don’t try to be something you are not.”2

The other flowers didn’t agree with the Resurrection Lilies. They wanted to have as much attention as the Rose. Their debate went on for two days. On the third day the family that lived in the house came out to play. While outside the children came over to the flowerbeds to see the flowers. All the flowers heard them say, “look at the purty flowers.” The flowers quit the debate and put their best petals forward. Each flower perked up when the children looked at them. Then the children did what any child does with flowers, they picked them for their Mother. That’s what these children did, pick the flowers.3

Once inside the house their Mom put the flowers in vases. Every time someone walked by they would smell the flowers and comment on their beauty and fragrance. The flowers were very happy. The Resurrection Flowers spoke to the other cut flowers. “See, how happy you are. Since we’ve been inside you haven’t complained about the Rose. Why do you think it is that way?” The other flowers shrugged their leaves as a response. The Resurrection Flowers continued, “you’re doing what I said in the garden. You are fulfilling what you are created to do.  Your purpose in life is to produce beauty and bring joy in people’s lives.” They all agreed, that’s what they were doing. “You need not be concerned over others getting attention, when you’re doing what you are supposed too. When each of us do what we’re made to do, we will get all the attention we should.”4

So all the flowers closed their petals to sleep. In their dreams they heard people saying,    “a (their name) by any other name is still a (their name).” For the next three days the family would smell the flowers and say something nice about each one. Each day the flowers opened their petals for a world of happiness and each night they closed their petals to sleep. During their sleep they dreamed happy dreams because they did what they were created to do. When they died their remains were buried in the garden and next Spring flowers grew where they were buried. The family came outside to play.5

Terry L. Sledge 6

09/11/20037