“African Beauty Rose”

Deep, deep is the root
Deep in African soil
Like sweet nectar of a fruit
Long lean beauty still unspoiled
Like enrapturing uncut gems
Completely free of piercing thorns;
Grow your long sturdy uncut stems
Of which only an African sun adorns.
Appearing with a Zulu maiden’s pose
new, lovely, black,
African beauty rose.


By Kattie M. Cumbo