Ballade Of The Rose Poem by Gert Strydom

In the morning you smile at me
while the sleep
still burns in your eyes
and like a white rose
that doesn’t yet fold open,
is the image that I have of you
and “rosa pallida” for you.

In the afternoon the fire is glowing
in your golden eyes
and when I look into the depths of them
I see how beautiful you really are
and how perfect your humanity is
and there are messages
that is deeper than I can understand
and a deep red Rose folding open
is the image that I have of you
and “rosa perfecta” for you.

In the dusk while the sun
hangs glowing red
the water glitters bright
on your body
while you come out of the shower
and I wonder which flower
could ever be more beautiful
and be better than perfect and be eternal
and your beauty is what I keep with me
and “rosa incarnada” for you.

[Reference: = Ballade van die roos by A.G. Visser.]