I think you are right about flowers having meanings which are different for a woman than for a man. For one thing, there is a "language of flowers," and most men do not speak nor understand that tongue, while many women do. Leads to a lot of misunderstanding of intent. Never give a woman a dozen red roses unless you really mean what they are saying. Very risky.

On your bio, you mentioned having one of your poems copied by someone and placed on some Website, marked "author unknown." Me too. This has happened to most of us from time to time. A couple of my friends have even had their work stolen and published under someone else's byline (that is far worse). Copyright law has loopholes. One of the loopholes is the required for-profit motive of the thief. Then there is the "education or research" loophole, where your works can be pilferred to be used in a book which is educational or for research (your permission is not necessary in this case). In either case, about the only thing you can do is complain to the Website/Publisher and demand that your poem either be removed or your byline placed on it. In most cases, your poem will be snagged and used with your byline intact, and that gives you one more publication credit.

Ted

WOW! This is absolutely stunning!
A rose written with such beauty and meaning! and felt deeply in the heart! What more can you say...
This was written so softly, like the first dew each morning touching all around...
WRITE ON!
Warmest Blessings and Inner Peace, Warrior Purple Passion Lady Sheexooo

STay Positive! Your ending blew me awayyyyy....

Quite romantic as well as soft in the way it should be felt. Lovely.

Dear Edward,

You've written This Rose with such care in the romantic softness of a Hallmark greeting. Water it always and carry on the tradition of the meaning...I know it comes from your heart to the one you hold dear...be well always...Blessed Be.

Love,
Sage

Ed, this is lovely, and that last verse...exquisite!

So very endearing and well described, that flower of forever....

Be always safe,
Karen

True to form and better. Your heart is in love and it gushed out in a poem that is so beautiful it leaves me breathless.

Susan

Beautiful rose! Well done!

Sandie Angel :o)

Such a perfect portrait of a feminine rose. Lovely work.