Of Roses and Poets: Volume I

By J. Franklin Willis

Of Roses and Poets is a collection of photographic rose portraits and vintage poems. The portraits are the work of J. Franklin Willis and the poems date from the mid-sixteenth century to the early twentieth century. Also included is a brief exploration of rose mythology: Greek, Roman, Hindu, Arab, Jewish and Christian.

Why roses and poems now? In a time otherwise shattered by violence, messages of beauty, love and honor are whispered to the very soul of humanity through the presence of roses and the words of poets. When images of terrorism flood the media, we may find comfort in these verbal and visual images.

Some roses speak of beauty, some of pride or even honor, while others hold a mischievous quality that flirts with our essence. Some roses remind us of romances and lovers, while poets gift us with words that bring to life emotions, the vapors that inhabit the soul and the very spirit of humanity that can lift us above a sometimes cruel world. This collection of poems has only two common qualities: I like each poem and each poem speaks to something within me.

I hope these images and poems speak to something within you and you find your private conversation with this volume adds to your peace of mind.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jun 16, 2006
• ISBN: 9781477178102

Book preview

Of Roses and Poets

J. Franklin Willis

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Liverpool Remembered

This edition published by J. Franklin Willis.

Copyright © 2006 by J. Franklin Willis, Photographic Artist, Walla Walla, Washington, United States of America.

34291-WILL

Library of Congress Control Number: 2006903625

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner, J. Franklin Willis.

The collection poetic works, which are individually within the public domain, are copyrighted as a collection in 2001 by J. Franklin Willis.

ISBN 1-4257-1400-5

ISBN: 978-1-4771-7810-2 (ebook)

First Edition – 2006

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris Corporation

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

[e-mail]

Dedication

This work is dedicated to my wife, children and grandchildren:

Dot,

Monte,

Carrie,

Mckenzie,

Aspen,

and those yet to come.

Acknowledgements

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Glass Rose

I wish to express my appreciation to the individuals who helped this book become a reality. First, gratitude and warm aloha is extended to my family. To my wife, Dot, I extend my gratitude for her assistance and patience as I paused not only to smell the roses but to capture their images. To my son, Monte, and my daughter, Carrie, for their suggestions and for the many days spent