Soul Rose Self Love Awakens

He sauntered into my dour dingy life across the stage,

Burgundy topcoat, patched jeans, shoemaker's sandals...

The Soul Rose Art exhibit was passing through town.

Now he bowed his flaming feathery cockatiel hair,

Vivid vermilion cresting at flamboyant fuchsia...

A blooming, breathing art form to love at first sight.

Such weird freedom to express challenge of possibilities;

unlike my quiet life hunkering in self-disapproval

longing for a thing of beauty to adorn my purpose.

He smiled and spoke, "A thing of beauty

is not the principle focus when potential is infinite

beyond any picture's illusion or self-constraint.

Take a rose as just word descriptions of many things

but where art will explore meditations and inspirations

to be where you want to be self acknowledged...

Creating crimson colors of bright celebration scarlets, cherry reds,

Washing maroon colours of losses and pain with violet shadows...

Stroking a lover's rose intensely pink lingering on the lips...

Intertwining ribbons of muted mauve memories some gold rims...

Now add a few drops of personal amethyst as dew or tears

and emerald tracks of choices begat by thorns or hopes...

More spontaneous dashes of lemon green for exuberance

as youth of children like butterflies flitting future, not past.

Be like a soul rose as an abstraction of infinite potential

within an inner landscape where art can heal

to love the experiences of your self-reflection

from which to reach a mirror to love outer reality.

First be able to love yourself as the greatest love to give others.

And so, my friends, for your contemplation

I present my ever-changing soul rose vision to interpret

and explore the endless permutations of colors and free thoughts

to find within your peace of understanding and place

of belonging without prejudice or judgement."

He turned to lift the veil from the huge canvas behind him.

My dour life imploded with transfusions of possibilities of a rose;

My heart flowered with new perceptions, or was it soul awakening,

Entranced by an illuminating truth even if I am abstractly unrealistic

I am special and unique in love with wonder of freedom unto itself.

Tomorrow I will dress with flamboyance and wear roses in my hair.

Annemarie Berukoff