The poems of Dorothy Parker are copyrighted by Dorothy Parker (and now her estate, I suppose). No copyright infringement is intended; I post these purely because I love them. 'One Perfect Rose' can be found in 'Enough Rope', 'The Poetry and Short Stories of Dorothy Parker' and 'The Collected Dorothy Parker'; if you like what you read, I strongly suggest that you buy at least one of these books.
One Perfect Rose (by Dorothy Parker)
A single flow'r he sent me, since we met
All tenderly his messenger he chose,
Deep-hearted, pure, with scented dew still wet -
One perfect rose.
I knew the language of the floweret;
"My fragile leaves," it said, "his heart enclose."
Love long has taken for its amulet
One perfect rose.
Why is it no one ever sent me yet
One perfect limousine, do you suppose?
Ah no, it's always just my luck to get
One perfect rose.
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