Rosa Multiflora Gore
Rosa Multiflora Gore
Sometimes, I feel a curmudgeon
bludgeoning bush, butchering
blood-red boughs,
snipping grounded throats, clippers straining
at my hip–
but this green deserves
demonizing,
an invader–
So, despite sure wounds,
I wage the losing war, wade in,
lending my mettle
to soft-speared grass, show-spiked
dandelion,
Queen Anne’s Lace, my liege.
*******************************
Rosa Multiflora, also called rambling rose, is an invasive species that has moved into my area of the Catskills. The flowers are actually incredibly pretty and fragrant too, but it would, if it could, crowd out all the native plants, and make fields one big thorn bush (a Sleeping Beauty mid-nap kind of landscape.) Every once in a while, I undergo battle against it. (The thorns are everywhere and sharp.)
The poem with title (and even hyphenated words, counting as two–HA!) is exactly 55 words–it was written for Hedgewitch’s Flash 55 prompt on With Real Toads. (As pretty much always, all rights reserved on text and drawing. )
Explore posts in the same categories: elephants, poetry, UncategorizedTags: elephant's don't do clippers, flash 55, manicddaily, poem about invasive species, Queen Anne's Lace my Liege, ramble-no-more rose poem, rosa multiflora poem
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ManicDDaily 
May 31, 2014 at 1:58 pm
I love the b words (bludgeoning bush, butchering
blood-red boughs,) very crisp ~ I hear you on those invaders, its a losing battle but we try anyway ~ Have a lovely weekend K ~
May 31, 2014 at 2:35 pm
Hey, Grace. Thanks. K.
May 31, 2014 at 2:49 pm
I love a rambling rose, and did not know that they had turned nasty invaders in your part of the world – conditions must be optimum. Good to know you take up your sword and shield against them.
I also really like the play of sounds throughout the poem – all those solid consonants and closed vowels in the first stanza and the softening towards the end with the w and s sounds and the longer vowels. Technically appealing and fair commentary on a current dilemma. Good poetry.
May 31, 2014 at 2:58 pm
I’m restraining my lefty self from reading anything into bush and Gore, beyond the blood that roses exact as their tribute when we confront them with shears and secateurs. I have a rose I call Cthulu, for obvious reasons. Like Kerry, I really enjoyed the sounds in this, the word curmudgeon itself, especially, and obviously, *created* to rhyme with bludgeon, and all the ‘s’ words add up to a slick sibilant finish. BTW, I’d like to borrow your elephant next time I prune–that is one prehensile trunk. ;_) Thanks for playing 55, k.
May 31, 2014 at 3:31 pm
Hadn’t thought of bush/gore! And would probably whack them both at this point– dislike bush more, of course, but feel gore has definitely let down the side with all his shenanigans.
>
June 1, 2014 at 7:34 am
Totally agree. I watched a lot of current tv before he sold it to al-jazeera, and the man is addicted to himself–the kind that can’t walk by a mirror without smiling for it. Bush–well, what can you say about a man who paints his toes in the bathtub? ;_)
June 1, 2014 at 7:36 am
Ha. Well, that’s probably his good side! k.
May 31, 2014 at 3:11 pm
there are def. plants that need cutting back to not get in the others way… i love rambler roses though and my garden is full with them… love their wildness and i mostly let them have their way even though i know i shouldn’t … oy
May 31, 2014 at 3:19 pm
Ha. Well, they may not be invaders in Europe. They are beautiful, and, believe me, we have plenty, but I want to keep this a field.
>
May 31, 2014 at 3:23 pm
I wonder if you’d craft a pen from your end notes, from the line, “the thorns are everywhere and sharp” 🙂 ~
May 31, 2014 at 3:52 pm
Good idea–probably less mannered! Hope all well. Thanks. K.
>
May 31, 2014 at 3:35 pm
ha. if wwe could get rid of the scrub trees that somehow jumped into our flowers i would be happy…they are my war this year….
May 31, 2014 at 3:38 pm
Love your slanted rhymes in this .. (I was so inspired by your dVerse article).. indeed those roses can be quite invasive.. In Sweden it’s more Rosa Rugosa.. that enter everywhere… I guess our harsher climate create other invasive species…
May 31, 2014 at 8:00 pm
Thanks so much, Bjorn. It is very cold here winters, but probably not so dark. k.
May 31, 2014 at 4:38 pm
The language is somewhat thorny, yet also attractive, just like your rosa multiflora. Well done.
May 31, 2014 at 4:58 pm
the frustration resounds in the opening sound play. I’m sure they do not stand a chance.
May 31, 2014 at 5:02 pm
I really liked the alliteration and how it added to the rhythm of the poem. 🙂
May 31, 2014 at 6:18 pm
What a great 55! I’ve been doing some pruning here too, though it’s winter kill on my roses, so I have been getting nipped myself! Good luck fighting the good fight!
May 31, 2014 at 8:32 pm
I guess it’s a bit like ivy on walls. Beautiful but destructive.
I enjoyed the little drawing too!
My 55 is here.
http://poetryofthenetherworld.blogspot.com/2014/05/for-dad-on-his-78th-birthday.html
May 31, 2014 at 9:09 pm
I love your drawing!! I’ve been there all too often…your closing, showing liege to Queen Anne’s Lace made me smile…nicely done and way to stick to the challenge…I cheated with the hyphens…just a little! 😉
May 31, 2014 at 9:10 pm
Thanks, Hannah. k.
June 1, 2014 at 6:56 am
Not only did I love your poem. I did, but also the information you provided after. It’s fascinating how nature works and species, which look pretty harmless and innocuous on the outside, can be terribly aggressive.
Greetings from London.
June 1, 2014 at 7:22 am
You know, I was just reading about Australia where invading species really recked havoc. Quite amazing. Thanks. k.
June 1, 2014 at 7:03 am
I don’t have rambling rose, but there are plenty of others to attack my smallish realm of plantings. I can relate to this so well. Wish I could put it all in 55 the way you do! I love Kerry’s comment above about wielding sword and shield. If memory serves, “Sword and Shield” was the motto of the old KGB. I think that gives a good character note on your relentless onslaught against the invader. Good luck!!
Steve K.
June 1, 2014 at 7:14 am
Ha. Thanks, Steve. k.
On Sun, Jun 1, 2014 at 8:03 AM, ManicDDaily wrote:
>
June 1, 2014 at 7:15 am
PS — hope you are enjoying the beautiful weather this weekend. k.
On Sun, Jun 1, 2014 at 8:14 AM, Karin Gustafson wrote:
> Ha. Thanks, Steve. k. > > > On Sun, Jun 1, 2014 at 8:03 AM, ManicDDaily > wrote: > >>
June 1, 2014 at 7:31 am
I intend to enjoy the weather…about to leave for a long bike ride. I’m prepping for the Buffalo-to-Albany Erie Canal Tour next month.
June 1, 2014 at 7:36 am
Oh my gosh. Sounds beautiful. k.
June 1, 2014 at 11:28 am
Fight the good fight, K!
June 1, 2014 at 11:29 am
ps–as always, I love your artwork!
June 1, 2014 at 11:51 am
Thanks, Shay. k.
June 1, 2014 at 12:14 pm
[…] « Rosa Multiflora Gore […]
June 1, 2014 at 4:20 pm
Rosa Multiflora ~ sounds much more civilized than Kudzu! I am in love with your drawing, Karin. And the poem ….
June 1, 2014 at 7:56 pm
I too let the roses ramble, but given the sleeping beauty image, will definitely start cutting. Allegory is all powerful!
June 3, 2014 at 2:40 pm
the sounds and textures here are stellar! gosh, i love every word. I think the 55 prompts are so effective, it certainly works here. great last line especially.
June 3, 2014 at 9:52 pm
Thanks, Jane.