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A Dozen Red Roses

February 9, 2026

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Jason Mitrione / Unsplash

A gift of a dozen red roses,
One for each infidelity,
To forget your broken promises
And your repulsive behavior toward me.

A present to hold you in my thoughts
So at your side I’ll stay
and cement our lovers’ farce,
A thoughtless gesture on Valentine’s Day.

Your gift of a dozen red roses.
Draws blood with each prick,
Bares thorns that are armed forces.
Their bacteria making me sick.

So, I choose myself; I choose self-love.
I won’t ignore the things you have done.
I’ll gift myself the love I deserve
Before you break me down

I choose happiness.
I’ll fight my way free.
I choose quiet calm,
mental serenity.

A gift of a dozen red roses,
One for each infidelity.
So I’ll buy my own damn roses,
And finally be happy.

Editor: Shannon Hensley

Rockebah C. Stewart

Rockebah C. Stewart is a Creative Writing and English major at SNHU and the author of "The Daily Chaos of an Anxious Life," published by Lolwe Magazine. A trained Air Traffic Controller, she delivers diversity-rich content with a distinctive flair and striking visualizations. Rockebah prides herself on creating tales of wonder from everyday experiences and becoming a literary representative of her native country, Grenada. Although this artistic writer prefers creating enchanting fantasies and sensual romances, she remains a firm believer in using genre diversity to strengthen all forms of writing. With each passing day, Rockebah inches closer to completing her epic fantasy novel, bringing her closer to realizing her goal of becoming a prominent figure in the publishing industry.