A symbol of strength
a mark of great leadership
rose of the nation
bringing comfort to our souls
girding our spirits with hope
©Vivian Zems
(#Tanka)
The Rose is the national flower of the United States – which celebrates President’s day this week. The Federal Holiday commemorates two of the greatest US presidents that ever lived: George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.
Smell The Coffee 
February 18, 2018 at 2:37 pm
A beautiful poem showing the legacy of this flower that symbolizes love and friendship as well. It is our state flower too!
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February 18, 2018 at 7:12 pm
Thank you!😊 Which state are you from?
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February 18, 2018 at 3:29 pm
I admire the qualities of true leadership noted in your poem.
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February 18, 2018 at 7:11 pm
Thank you!😊 Pity not reflected currently.
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February 18, 2018 at 3:46 pm
While I knew states had symbols as well as some for our nation…
I wasn’t aware of the rose being the national flower. I enjoy the learning and connections ‘the net’ helps us make.
Hope is a value we need at the moment!
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February 18, 2018 at 7:11 pm
Indeed, hope is everything. As a Brit, I’ve only just learned this myself. A good symbol.
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February 18, 2018 at 7:42 pm
A couple of our towns are York and Lancaster…
York is the white rose and Lancaster is the red…
thus: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_the_Roses_(Pennsylvania) Taken from your historic side of the pond 😀
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February 18, 2018 at 9:30 pm
Familiar names😊 Beautiful symbols.
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February 18, 2018 at 4:30 pm
Great one Vivian!
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February 18, 2018 at 7:09 pm
Thank you!😊
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February 18, 2018 at 5:59 pm
Now I love roses! The favorite flower of the one I love.
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February 18, 2018 at 7:08 pm
Thank you!😊
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February 18, 2018 at 8:38 pm
May it give us hope again
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February 18, 2018 at 9:31 pm
Especially after that buffoon goes away
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February 18, 2018 at 9:32 pm
As a Brit (as I was too) you would recall that roses are prominent in that country’s history too. This is a beautiful tanka Vivian.
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February 18, 2018 at 10:18 pm
Absolutely. ..I remember. Thank you! 😊
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February 18, 2018 at 10:23 pm
Well, I am in awe of roses and celebrate my birthday with George…
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February 18, 2018 at 11:37 pm
kaykuala
Wonder who can stake a claim to this from the current crop of world leaders. Great thoughts Vivian!
Hank
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February 19, 2018 at 12:24 am
Well done with fragrance and presentation. 🙂
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February 19, 2018 at 11:45 am
lovely tanka!
greetings from Singapore. Our national flower is an orchid, vanda miss joaquim. 🙂
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February 19, 2018 at 12:47 pm
Thank you😊. The orchid is beautiful. Greetings from the UK!
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February 21, 2018 at 1:40 pm
Well – always something to learn. I didn’t know the rose was the national flower of the USA. (I thought it was England’s, but I see that is the Tudor rose specifically.) It certainly is a flower with a lot of positive symbolism.
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February 21, 2018 at 7:59 pm
I didn’t know myself until Google filled me in. We learn everyday😊
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