Songs of Innocence or Lack Thereof for Valentine’s Day

After William Blake and based on articles like http://www1.american.edu/ted/chocolate-slave.htm

O rose, thou art sick. Yet perfect!

An emblem of enticement,

for poisons run in your veins

to destroy the worm that dares

find shelter and welcome within

crimson robes of sweet perfume.

O rose, thou art sprayed,

pruned and picked by

peasant hands made red raw,

rashed and pricked, and

heads made bent and dizzy

by fiery fumes of perfection.

Chocolates, thy pods were picked

by child slaves with dark curls hidden

in the shade of dark jungles

on a far island under drifts

of white and gray clouds

that might as well be the

far, dark side of the moon.