If we were briar roses, we would twine about one another, and the air would be charged with our scent. We would make a bower, and other lovers would make their trysts in our shade.
But I am not a briar rose. I am only a thornbush.
If we were turtle doves, we would bill and coo amongst the blossoming trees, with the spring sun warm on our wings. We would make a nest in the high branches and there we would feed our chicks, and murmur to them in the starlit night.
But I am not a turtle dove. I am only a hawk.
If we were poets, we would weave our words together, and conjure sonnets and sestinas to celebrate our love. We would write them on the palest parchment, and other lovers would read our words and sigh with envy that their love was not ours.
But I am not a poet. I am the King’s Assassin.
And so it is with sorrow in my heart that I slide the knife into yours. It is with great regret I look into your eyes, and see the hurt; in your heart, and in your soul. I do not look away. I do what I must do; the only thing I can. We all do what we must.
For you are not a rose, or a dove. You are the Queen, and you should not have betrayed your husband. Love is foolish and fleeting, when set against the duty of a wife. To follow your heart is to follow a treacherous path that can lead you only into peril; that can take you only to death.
You should not have betrayed him.
We should not have betrayed him.
Brian Dolton has never knowingly slid a knife into anyone’s heart. Very occasionally, though, he pokes people with a finger.
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17 Responses to “IF WE WERE BRIAR ROSES • by Brian Dolton”
Comments
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July 9th, 2008 at 1:28 am
It seemes more like a poem than a story, but it sits with me fine, i still enjoyed it
July 9th, 2008 at 3:44 am
Excellent final twist (of the knife)!
July 9th, 2008 at 3:47 am
I really enjoyed this - I admit I started out skeptical, although the language was lovely. But the ending was very well done, unexpected and cleverly written. What a great piece of flash fiction! Thanks!
July 9th, 2008 at 6:05 am
Really enjoyable story! Very poetic — lovely language — and a surprise plot twist and everything. Well done!
July 9th, 2008 at 7:25 am
Ditto. The twist made the story. You made the shift beautifully and succinctly. Nicely executed. (har har)
July 9th, 2008 at 8:24 am
Beautiful language - I really enjoyed it.
July 9th, 2008 at 8:49 am
Fatal Poetry?! If it were a short film, may be you could call it that! Okay, just kidding. Good stuff!
July 9th, 2008 at 9:34 am
I nearly mistook it for a poem, and was surprised to find a story.
I always love a tender assassin.
July 9th, 2008 at 10:19 am
You are a rose in a beautiful flower garden waiting to deliver with your words.
Thanks,
Jimmy
July 9th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
[...] that this won’t happen again. We’d also like to apologize to Brian Dolton, whose story, If We Were Briar Roses, was affected by the outage. We will be republishing his piece in August so that readers who [...]
July 9th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Poetic and alluring. I found it a fascinating tale, anticipated the ending, but still thouroughly enjoyed your story, Brain. Well done.
July 10th, 2008 at 9:02 am
Highly enjoyable. Like others, I really appreciated the initial tone of the story & the twist at the end.
July 11th, 2008 at 5:22 am
Thanks to all for the comments - they are all much approeciated.
I am not normally a fan of “twist” endings, and on the occasions when I use them I try and do something more with the story as well. Glad to see it seems to have worked here.
July 11th, 2008 at 7:12 am
I thoroughly enjoyed this one, Brian. Well done.
July 12th, 2008 at 6:22 am
[...] “If We Were Briar Roses” by Brian Dolton — This story starts out like a love poem, and then, suddenly, the plot is made clear and you look at the poetry again with new eyes. [...]
July 14th, 2008 at 3:01 am
Fabulous story-almost like a prose poem-loved it! Too bad all I have to give is a five!
Best,
Pamela
July 31st, 2008 at 12:02 am
[...] One author’s story was unduly affected. Brian Dolton’s excellent piece “If We Were Briar Roses” was brought down for approximately eight hours. Originally, we were going to republish the [...]