kind rose

by Linda M. Crate

i never told you
how much i admired
your talent or how beautiful
i thought you were
because everyone wanted to be
with you or be you
i thought you knew,
and i'm sorry i was too shy
to tell you how much
i loved you;
fell in love with you once
but denied myself
not merely for Christ as
i ought have,
but because i feared
your rejection—
couldn't help myself
you were the girl that
smelled of roses who smiled
kindness at me,
and you inspired me to turn
dreams into reality
wanted you to be proud of me
like i've always been
proud of you;
and i wanted you to be the
fae to whom i gave my heart.