Roses Only

Roses Only You do not seem to realize that beauty is a liability rather than an asset - that in view of the fact that spirit creates form we are justified in supposing that you must have brains. For you, a symbol of the unit, stiff and sharp, conscious of surpassing by dint of native superiority and liking for everything self-dependent, anything an ambitious civilization might produce: for you, unaided, to attempt through sheer reserve, to confuse presumptions resulting from observation, is idle. You cannot make us think you a delightful happen-so. But rose, if you are brilliant, it is not because your petals are the without-which-nothing of pre-eminence. Would you not, minus thorns, be a what-is-this, a mere perculiarity? They are not proof against a worm, the elements, or mildew; but what about the predatory hand? What is brilliance without co-ordination? Guarding the infinitesimal pieces of your mind, compelling audience to the remark that it is better to be forgotten than to be re- membered too violently, your thorns are the best part of you. Marianne Moore Poem chosen: Roses Only (1924) Literary Period: Modern imagist movement, "clarity of expression through the use of precise visual images." (poets.org). This poem is full of powerful images that convey setting, tone, and theme. This poem revolves around female sexuality. It is about a woman who waits at the hands of another man. Like the rose, the woman is beautiful on the outside, but she has thorns that people forget about. This woman is only observed, just like a rose, and that could reflect her feelings toward men. The use of lowercase letters symbolizes inferiority towards men, a stylistic choice I find very interesting. The image of the rose is a key element in this poem and it correlates with the literary movement of the time. At the end, Moore says “your thorns are the best part of you” and this powerful ending stuck with me. She is telling the reader that the parts of you that people may not see or may attempt to look past are often your best attributes.. it could be anything, from wit to intelligence to sarcasm.