Poemranker [Poem: I Never Promised You a Rose Garden] [by oneglove] Thu Apr 25 04:11:56 PDT 2024

[8] amanda_dcosta @ 202.164.142.153 | 2-Jun-06/5:54 AM | Reply

I bet you know this one...

"I beg your pardon,
I never promised you a rose garden
along with the sunshine
you're gonna need a little rain sometime."
(Song--Rose Garden by Linda Anderson, or so)

[n/a] oneglove @ 67.96.13.105 > amanda_dcosta | 2-Jun-06/9:22 AM | Reply

actually i didnt know linda anderson sang it, it's been covered by others though. this is about the slaying of 6 priests, their maid and her daughter by the government in el salvador in 1989. there is now a rose garden planted in the field where they were lined up and killed. the contrast between the red rose petals and blood stained lawn really struck me.

[n/a] Niphredil @ 132.69.238.35 > oneglove | 17-Jun-06/2:14 PM | Reply

Wow, then I was way off the mark. I thought it had to do with some kind of rejected love... a little too obscure, perhaps you could clarify a bit? You've got a lovely concept there.

[n/a] oneglove @ 65.186.208.103 > Niphredil | 19-Jun-06/2:36 PM | Reply

well the flower symbolizes the ideals of the movement, that those with the ability to speak out against opression had a responsiblity to. the petals symbolize the martyrs. they all gave their lives for all of those without a voice. though the men of faith were gone, God still loved the oppressed and the November murders were the beginning of the end of the war.

[9] Ranger @ 62.252.32.15 | 2-Jun-06/11:17 AM | Reply

This is strong although the rhythm is interrupted in line 8 and the final two lines. Perhaps:
'He still loves them'
'From dark November/The light of spring'

[n/a] oneglove @ 65.186.208.103 > Ranger | 17-Jun-06/6:41 AM | Reply

excellent suggestions, consider it changed.

[9] Ranger @ 81.156.74.33 > oneglove | 19-Jun-06/11:36 AM | Reply

And it has thus gone from being a good poem to being a very good poem. I think maybe you'd get the reading you want if you linked an online resource with the story behind this, then we'd make the connection. Top stuff though.

[n/a] oneglove @ 65.186.208.103 > Ranger | 19-Jun-06/2:26 PM | Reply

http://library.spc.edu/mark/elsalv.html

theres a nice little summary there along with lots of links that i didnt look at but if youve got time to kill, enjoy!