There are probably few lines of poetry more instantly recognizable than “Roses are red, violets are blue.” We see or hear it, and at this point, our brains already know to expect what’s coming: two more short lines, ending in something like “new” or “true.” It’s been used for love poems, Valentine’s Day cards, dirty jokes, and pretty much every other occasion that calls for a few lines that rhyme.
But, as we tend to do on the internet, some folks over on r/rosesarered have taken this well-worn formula and totally run with it. And the results are often nothing you could have seen coming. They can be silly, unexpected, dark, or downright chaotic—but they all show just how much can be done with a format that seems deceptively simple. So, whether you came here for a little “internet poetry” or simply enjoy seeing a familiar phrase turned on its head, here are some of the most memorable examples we found.
