THE THIRD POETRY PRIZE WINNER –
WINTER 2021-2022
is CAMRYN FORD
of Maumelle, Arkansas, USA
“Tragedy of the Rose”
By Camryn Ford
The night air feels cold and unfriendly
The grass feels wet and damp
Love is blinded by wishes to be
But Death grows envious of the young couple’s dreams
Death spares no one
Not even the mothers’ seed
Two hearts yearn for one another
With so much sorrow that they bleed
Love is like a rose
So beautiful and rare
As it blossoms
It enchants your soul
As it withers
It leaves emptiness and despair
Two lovers seduced by love’s beauty at first sight
Entangled in its thorny vines
Too bewitched to notice its spikes
Juliet, Oh thy Juliet
I will not live this life without you
May this bitter poison lead me back to you
Romeo, Oh thy Romeo
I belong to you and only you
Even in death may our love remain true
They can’t escape the tragedy of this night
So deadly and so discreet
May these two hearts be together again
And bloom for an eternity
# # #
About the poet:
I am a freshman in high school, and love being creative. I got into writing poetry in my Pre-AP English class. We studied Romeo and Juliet and while most of my class focused on the love and dedication of the two lovers, I really connected with the poetic beauty of tragedy. That inspired this poem.
