“One Perfect Rose” by Dorothy Parker

A single flow'r he sent me, since we met.
All tenderly his messenger he chose;
Deep-hearted, pure, with scented dew still wet -
One perfect rose.

I knew the language of the floweret;
'My fragile leaves,' it said, 'his heart enclose.'
Love long has taken for his amulet
One perfect rose.

Why is it no one ever sent me yet
One perfect limousine, do you suppose?
Ah no, it's always just my luck to get
One perfect rose.

1. What is the messenger in stanza 1?

2. What is the meaning of the observation in lines 7-8?

3. In line 6, the speaker quotes the rose. Characterize the nature of the rose’s remark.

4. What do you think would be the effect if in line 10 the word limousine were replaced with diamond?