Publisher's Synopsis
This appears to be a poem that touches on themes of decay, disease, and the struggle to find meaning and beauty in a world that can be harsh and unforgiving. The first two lines suggest that a rose bush is suffering from blight, a fungal disease that can cause leaves to curl and wither. The "pinholes in veins" could refer to the small punctures that blight can cause on a plant's leaves. The third line mentions "the thing doused white," which could be a reference to a pesticide or other chemical treatment that has been used to try to combat the blight. However, the use of the word "doused" suggests that this treatment may have been excessive or harmful. The fourth line, "'cure worse than the disease, '" is a common expression used to describe situations where a supposed solution to a problem ends up causing more harm than good. The fifth and sixth lines express a sense of helplessness and frustration, as the speaker wonders what they can say or do to make things better. The seventh and eighth lines describe the speaker's struggle with their own creative work, as they find themselves dissatisfied with the words they have written.
