And the white rose breathes of love;
O, the red rose is a falcon,
And the white rose is a dove.
~John Boyle O'Reilly (1844-1890)
White or the red? Which would you prefer? This poem titled 'A White Rose' is a celebrated love poem of classical literature. It compares the white rose to the red. What exactly does it mean? What do the roses here stand for?
Since ancient times, the white rose was a symbol of purity and innocence. The Romans planted a white rose bush on the burial sites of young women to symbolize their virginity. In Christianity, white roses were often associated with the Virgin Mary- she was in fact referred to as "The White Rose". The white rose was the color of love before it was replaced by the ubiquitous red of modern times. It is the traditional flower of marriage, representing true love and the purity of the bride.
While the red rose gives erotic overtones with its fiery red hue, the white rose, which the poet identifies as true love, emanates an aura of divinity with its pristine color of light.
