On the occasion of the opening reception of Please, teach me the language of a rose at Taubman Museum of Art, Roanoke, USA, writer Ashley Rhame recited a poem inspired by the exhibition.
Please, Teach Me the Language of a Rose
Inspired by exhibit Please, Teach me The Language of a Rose by Artist Giuseppina Giordano
she rises with steam
back, straight as line
tall as pride, without its ego
each arm pedaling
gentle, yet, powerful
and enticing magic
only cleopatra knows the true intricacies of times original recipe
a voice singing, of war and love
no feet have traveled, or reached
the highest of peaks
or lowest of dams as she
when time draws itself backwards
wind smells of her essence left to linger
around souls as gold dust does the sky at sunset
tell me,
how the language of all mankind
possess the lack of boundaries
and still, her fluidity to hold all of everything
at frequencies felt before-
sounds surface in this natural world
explain,
why strewn, separated from its body
in death lives to entice, well after Marc Anthony’s era in time
why, crumbled and trampled
serves as ultimate blessing
invoking love, and fertility
at the bride’s light, ready,
and mighty steps
while, white and pure
or, yellow and protective of spirits
red, a celebration of gathering hearts
and death by battles to come
in purest form, mystical
anointing the life of the dead
sacred to the souls of our beloveds
her petals, stem, and thorns
all, a holy presence
a body, a prayer, a civilization
a continuous flowing river
a communication, a star guide
an inner strength to build boat
out of our own makings
to explore her lands
to scatter her in our own demise
risks, worth taking, acknowledging
a medicine which heals the scars
of Earth and its many bodies
and we,
shape shifting around thorns
climbing her stem
listening to that which is stored
inside of her birthing, as she lives
to die at our mercy
giving unto those, who are not worthy
at all
Ashley Rhame
Rhame is a native of Roanoke, Virginia who began writing poetry at the age of 21. She has self-published two books, Soul Cry and God’s Eye. Her work has been featured in the Artemis Journal alongside poets like Nikki Giovanni in the Appalachian area. Ashley has also led workshops at Hollins University, Girls Rock Roanoke, church youth departments, and other local organizations. You can find her every other Wednesday night at Soul Sessions using her voice to create a space that’s loving, reflective, and healthy.
Instagram: a.rhame
www.ashleyrhame.com