Respect the Thorn Poetry

by Gina Rose

Respect the Thorn Poetry by Gina Rose is a poetic diary. Brimming with thought-provoking essence, the words dance together painting the odyssey and pondering of the author. The anthology is composed of the three parts of a the stem, the thorn, and the petal. The stem journeys back to the past of the author; the thorn dances with darkness and traces the pokes that have shaped the author. Both the stem and the thorn enable the writer to find the petal, which unveils how soft and sweet this experience can be even as it wilts before us.

138 pages, Paperback

Published July 25, 2024

Reviews

[READER VIEWS · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first saw the title of this book, it confused me. Why respect a thorn? Thorns hurt. They cause pain. They can draw blood. But after reading this poetry collection, I now understand what it means to “respect the thorn.” It takes some thought and reflection, but grasping this insight helps the reader to understand that even something as painful as a thorn should be respected. In “Respect the Thorn: Poetry,” author Gina Rose shares how she came to respect the thorn.

Imagine a rose. There is the stem, the thorn, and the petal. The stem is where we all begin: in the infancy and childhood innocence of life. Then there is the dreadful thorn, wherein we go throw so much pain and torment. This lasts until we reach the petal: Beautiful, fully formed and soft in the delicate creation of a beautiful sight to behold.

Yes, the petals of the rose are the things that stand out and capture the eye, but it was the ability to survive the “thorny passages of life” to get there. In a way, it reminded me of the saying of how change is hard at first but glorious at the end.

Rose takes readers into her childhood at the beginning. Though she writes of an absent father, replaced by a man she called “Belt man” who was an alcoholic:

Belt man came and went; that was scary.

A wave of his weapon and threat that would vary.

Finally she’d leave him; 20 years was enough
I’m sure it was hard but by then she’d grown tough
Plus she had him, the grizzly to warm her
She discovered his drinks that made his words slur
Perhaps it did more, maybe memories it blurred
Though it seemed darkness it stirred. (Page 26)

She talks with love and compassion about her mother:

My mother was like a dream
Always coming and going as it seems
She would swoop me up and make me sing
Letting me know the happiness life could bring
We would play and shop
Fall and tremble, pretending my hair was a mop. (Page 30)

And then we get to the thorn: The troubled times in life. The disappointments, the pain, and heartbreak. The things we think we will never heal from but someday find the strength to rise above.

In this part of the book, the author shares the tumultuous times of her thorn years. The anger at God for her pain:

You intentionally have me suffering

Your reasons in the universe far away hovering
Am I meant to stay here? Living in pain, living in fear?

God I followed you here and this is my reward?
My cries for help, for a saviour ignored

Why do you do this? (Page 43)

And about her depression during this time:

But unfortunately I had to stay in the gray
A place where others like to try and lead you astray
It makes people so uncomfortable, it eats at them so
Throws off the ego, this place that I know (Page 61)

Then we reach the petal. Her petal. The final lap of her journey to becoming the person she is meant to be. Not only this but her embracing of motherhood:

Time passes so quickly now that old crook;
I ask him to slow down so I don’t miss the moment
but time’s not my friend he’s my opponent
Must write it down, must take these pictures
Must stay in the moment and read wise scriptures
So I can remember these days and feel this same fondness
Take these full breaths and hold on to this calmness (Page 88)

How she turns to her art and the writing of poetry to keep from breaking because of the terrible things in the world and the wisdom of letting go of the past and the pain it brought her. She is older and wiser now and ready to stay on her new journey in life.

“Respect the Thorn” is a collection of poetry that delivers a powerful message: Life can be hard at the beginning but beautiful, like the petal, at the end. It’s up to us to persevere, and the author with the appropriate last name of Rose will show us how we can not only survive the hard times, but keep going in spite of them.

[Cecelia Nichols-Corbett · Rating 5 out of 5]

The synopsis by the publisher Pegasus says it all. This is a powerful book of contemporary poetry that will remain timeless, especially for any woman who has experienced emotional pain from childhood, love, divorce, the “unjudicial “ court system, or endures chronic pain. Gina Rose has dealt with all of these issues with grace, spirituality and courage. I read the book twice today, and will probably read it again and again, whenever I need a reminder to endure. It’s truly a unique poetry book.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful contemporary poetry uniquely penned by the author who lives with chronic physical pain, has suffered emotional trauma and physical abuse, and who was battered by the court system. Using the analogy of a rose, from stem and thorn, to ultimately the lovely petal, this compilation is a shelf keeper and one to gift others who are trying to endure hardship. The author leaves one feeling “ if she can do it, so can I.”