The fragrant, romantic classical red rose is associate with beauty, love, passion and desire. They are often used as the ultimate symbol of love in poetry, literature, art, music and films. In Greek history it was tied to Aphrodite/Venus – the goddess of love, in Christianity it is associated with the virtue of Virgin Mary. It is not only the universal symbol of love and affection, but it is also the symbol of the British Labour Party and the emblem of Lancashire.
"A thorn defends the rose, harming only those who would steal the blossom." - Chinese Proverb
"But he that dares not grasp the thorn. Should never crave the rose." - Anne Bronte
"The rose is a flower of love. The world has acclaimed it for centuries. Pink roses are for love hopeful and expectant. White roses are for love dead or forsaken, but the red roses, ah the red roses are for love triumphant." - Unknown
One Perfect Rose
A single flow’r he sent me, since we met.
All tenderly his messenger he chose;
Deep-hearted, pure, with scented dew still wet—
One perfect rose.
I knew the language of the floweret;
“My fragile leaves, ” it said, “his heart enclose.”
Love long has taken for his amulet
One perfect rose.
Why is it no one ever sent me yet
One perfect limousine, do you suppose?
Ah no, it’s always just my luck to get
One perfect rose.
— Dorothy Parke