Reminder Of Sublime Eternity 

This article is not a botanical explanation nor am I here to pretend as a chiseled botanist to explain how flowers, particularly roses, are grown in a garden! The question arises here! Why only roses? Other flowers too boast of their petaling beauty and colours and it is so heartening to see them fluttering and tossing their heads in the breeze. 

I kindly bring in the Scottish Poet and Lyricist Robert Burns (1759-1796) to support my views! 

In his poem: “A Red, Red Rose” he writes: 

“O my Love is like a red, red rose 

That’s newly sprung in June; 

O my Love is like the melody 

That’s sweetly played in tune 

So far art thou my bonnie las, 

So deep in love am I; 

And I will love thee still, my dear, 

Till the seas gang dry” …. 

As a hobby gardener, I know that roses attract people much more than any other flowers do. The love and addiction to red blossoming roses had so much to do with people since ancient times 

that they even became part and parcel of their daily life. Examples of these, among others, are people like the Mogul Emperor Akbar and India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Akbar would be seen carrying a red rose in his hand as he moved around palaces or scouring forts and Jawaharlal Nehru with a red rose pinned on his “sherwani” (big coat), not to forget the Roman legacy of raising roses and other flowers thousands of years ago. 

Explained literally, the roses for them meant admiration towards Mother Nature for her exposition of sublime and delicate beauty which no other flower can excel them even today. 

As a student of English literature, I profoundly understand that they are more than just roses; art, history and culture are deeply-associated with them and their mainstream emotions are woven into a fabric of joy and beauty! No wonder the saying: “A thing of beauty is a joy forever! "Think of roses, the mind becomes soothingly relaxing and romantic! They are the timeless reminder of endurance. 

At a time when we are living in a world where change takes up a timeless tide, there is a symbol that constantly reminds us of the beauty of resilience- the rose! 

Resilient and elegant in its entirety, a rose has been telling beautiful stories that extend through centuries, cultures and emotions turning it into a universal emblem of satisfaction and pride. 

In Nepal, we do have people who see roses from a different angle, meaning not going deep in understanding the petaling beauty with lessons of inner solace of the mind and spirit but just in terms of the decoration or ornaments of their gardens, sometimes impressing the visitors with questions like “they are so beautiful! aren’t they? A very docile answer from the guests: “Oh!  They look so beautiful!” 

Good answer without having to scour the petals and their beauty, as well as the hidden message that roses generally try to convey to every one of us. 

Many do not know a rose thrives everywhere, no matter how its surroundings are, even blooming in the face of adversity. In literal terms, its thorns serve as guardians, a vivid proof to the idea that beauty too has its own challenges. Like life itself, the rose’s delicate petals keep us reminding us that fragility and strength coexist in perfect harmony. 

As a student of English literature, I do see its symbolism running deep irrespective of the colours its petals wear - the fervent red of passion, the gentle pink of gratitude, or the solemn white of remembrance. No matter what colour, the profound message that every rose carries is in fact the same that, even at times of fleeting moments and uncertainties, endurability is always there. Not only that, it teaches us about the present but also the memories and lessons that weather the storms. 

There is solace in its fragrance, hope in its grace and the endurable facets of life in its bony structure.

In my own experience, the rose teaches us to bloom where we are “planted "and to embrace the beauty of life, even when we are surrounded by thorns. 

Life ‘s difficulties are expressed by their thorns while their bloom signifies hope and triumph over challenges. 

Roses also inspire acts of love, kindness and connection. They are the universal language that express emotions which words cannot easily explain. 

The significance of roses is not confined to gardens only but also in art and literature. Ranging from Shakespeare poetry to modern art, roses have always continued to inspire creativity. Seeing the petals unfold, one is caught between passion and mystery too. 

Roses teach us to be resilient and inspire mindfulness. 

In order to lace this article with profanity and wisdom, I am taking help of the renowned German poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1822). 

In one of his masterpieces, Heidenröslein (Heath Rose) he wrote: 

„Sah ein Knab' ein Röslein stehn, Röslein auf der Heiden, 

War so jung und morgenschön, 

Lief er schnell es nah zu sehn, 

Sah's mit vielen Freuden.

Röslein, Röslein, Röslein rot, Röslein auf der Heiden……and here is the gist of the poem 

"Heidenröslein" is a story of a young man who sees a small rose on the heath and decides to pluck it, despite the rose's strict warning that she will painfully prick him with her thorns so that he will not forget his pain forever. 

Nevertheless, the boy plucks the rose with much pain in no time”. 

The poem could be interpreted as the boy subduing the girl (the rose) by force without heeding to her defiance at all…. and now she must suffer the consequences… 

Going further, a rose thrives despite the challenges like harsh weather conditions and rough soil.  Its thorns are the reminder that even beauty has struggles to cope with and these struggles provide depth and meaning to us. The delicate petals of a rose reveal to us the significance of tenderness and its hard stem shows us strength signifying life as a balance of vulnerability and resilience. 

From their bright bloom, we learn a lesson showing us how to treasure the joys of life. They also epitomise the transient nature of life suggesting us to live in the present. 

Since roses reveal their countless shapes, sizes and colours, each with a captivating charm, we also learn how to celebrate human diversity. 

It is a natural cycle for roses to bloom, fade and bloom again interpreting the doctrine that renewal is always possible. They are good teachers of composure and patience that can elevate us in our life, no matter what the circumstances are. 

When I look at roses in my own garden, I ponder at them for a while and try to seek an answer to their meaningful explanation of their thorns and subtle colourful “cheeks” that penetrate our hearts, weaving our smiles and affection into a fabric of joy forever! 

So, next time when you bow to greet your loved ones with roses, be sure that you are not just making them happy with roses alone but you are also handing the significance of resilience and happiness over to them.

Here is English Playwright William Shakespeare on rose! 

Shakespeare is widely known in English literature for frequently using roses as metaphors to describe beauty, love and fleeting nature. Here is one brilliant example! Somewhere in one of his sonnets he says: “The rose looks fair, but fairer we it deems for that sweet odor which doth in it live”. This seeks to explain that true beauty does not only try to explain about appearance but also the inner qualities with a deeper meaning by explaining that the rose does not only just boast of its looks but also for fragrance. I got to read this too: Petals and thorns create a balanced perspective on life; beauty is not without struggle, and hardship often leads to growth. 

So next time, when you get closer to roses in your garden, please do not just smile at them but try to understand what the petals and thorns want to tell you. They will tell their story to you as follows: “life is not all sunshine without shade, nor is it all pleasure without pain!” 

(The author is a retired broadcaster.)