First red rose

Sometime in the dark medieval past
when poetry was so steadfast
and penned a sheath of flowery words
a sonnet to enchant the birds

they spoke of love where ideals start
and portraits clasped in lockets grasp
a lock of hair for the chosen one
to give away on a spring day

to bring a blush each fair cheek
the dandy and the cuckold
they saw a chance to advance
to gain the hand of one so sweet

the first to bring a rose and not just pros
not to pay for lucky charms
lovers potions and amulets
a red rose between the teeth

I think it was on valentines day
wrote on scrolls with  in scratchy ink
until that day only roses pink
but fertilized with red pigs blood

the rose as red as lips
cultivates love so to speak
and so it came red rose to be
hemoglobin its mystery