Budding & Wilted Roses

Budding & Wilted Roses: Inspirational Poem Through Life's Seasons Description Budding and Wilted Roses: Inspirational Poems Through Life's Seasons is a collection of my writings which includes personal and scriptural references together with quotations from noted spiritual and social leaders. The poems reflect my personal views, experiences, challenges and an approach to life's situations which exemplifies that of the victor and not the victim. The poems are designed to inspire and encourage those who may have similar experiences on their life's journey. The book is divided into the four seasons-Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter to illustrate growth from the inception of spiritual awareness to maturity. My reference to budding and wilted roses in the collection symbolizes an evolution to another stage, with often the beauty and fragrance of the roses being more intense when wilted, than when they were fresh. If a budding rose is to be a portrayal of exuberance and zest for a bright future, a wilted rose could be viewed as a period in life when one is prone to caution and discernment. Thus, a rose is still a rose, but in the seasons of our life, a budding rose eventually becomes a wilted rose without diminishing its essence. Initially, when I began writing frequently to encourage someone who was experiencing a difficult situation, I would write a poem specifically designed to meet their particular need or concern. Within a few years, because of the number of poems I had written for practically every season of a person's life, I could now select a poem from my collection that would be appropriate for a given situation. This was my way of sending people roses from my "personal garden" which might be a source of strength and comfort to them.