by Teresa Burleson

Out of the thorns
Comes the rose,
Still daring to unfurl
Its fragile beauty
Amidst such pain,
Wordlessly testifying
To the One

Who is fairer
By far,
Than all He has made.
The One who made
These silken petals,
Once Himself wore thorns,
The only crown
We offered Him.

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A free-lancer for over 40 years, Teresa Burleson has credits in over 45 magazines. In 2002, she received the National League of American Pen Women Virginia Liebeler Biennial Grant for Mature Women in the letters category. She is the author of The Pilgrim’s Lyre, published in 2003 and Rose Without Thorns, published in 2013.