Rose's Winter Garden

Floruit her beauty, an invite for morning bliss

Rosehip bursting, the caress of a springtime lover

Entangled with vigour, flush excitement for another

Anticipation of summer, petals invite the first kiss

Cheeks aglow, lovers embrace the summer breeze

Dreamy sunrise, dancing feet muted atop meadow grass

Effervescent bubbles, love painting the champagne glass

Forested frolic, commitments abound with careless ease

Wishful plans astir, joyful the tumble from a garden bed

Cuddling the summer solstice, nary a whisper of frost

Caressing her soft skin, unimaginable the ultimate cost

Lion's month, quicken of arousal whilst love is fed    

Autumn approaches, nature dons her golden dress

Garden fence sways, morning breath speaks of chill

Dancing birds depart, dusts of snow discover Rose still

Vibrancy cedes to pastel, love lost yet slow to egress

Old man brushes the garden white, the last petals fall   

Dormant becomes the stem, resting 'til the dawn of spring

Footfalls in a snowy garden, another lover soon to sing   

Dance anew dear Rose, thrilling has been nature's call

Rose's Raven

Winter holds sway, silently she combs Death

Frozen is the barren bed, lamentation of swans

Dark starless night, the cold wind keening

Rose tumbles

Love a dream lost, her August songbird long rusted

Years spill forth, hope dashed by winter storms 

The Old Man holds fast, garden gnomes retire

Rose yearns 

White blanket relents, earthen eyes flutter anew

Sprout sips from a golden chalice, she stretches

Sunlight kisses foliage, duvet gently unfurls

Rose stirs

Garden denizens frolic, bees caress pistils bright

Stem scant with leaves, floret tightly wound

Life flourishes, yet no bloom does she share 

Rose withers

Shadows cast long, no lover has she found

Nourishment enough, her thirst never slaked

Raven knits the wilted bud, a red dash trembles  

Rose retires

First snow cuddles, the curtain call of a lost year

Yearning stirs the November moon, restlessly she weeps

Desire prepares a meal of despair, fasting is essential

Rose acquiesces

Ode to Rose

Paternal beast rages, babe writhes under a dampened sheet

Words draw blood, hidden scars speak a whispered tale

Eggs shells bark underfoot, her fragile heart he doth assail

Festering sufferance of damnation, self-love cowers in defeat

Emancipation a beck and call, her savior upon a white steed

Freedom recedes like fog, her father's scion did she marry

Trapped in the viper's pit, vitriol fangs Rose must parry

Violent tongue deflates spirit, battered spine a fragile reed

Courageous dragon, last firesome breath melts golden bands 

Porcelain shards gathered, self-esteem a ghost to capture

Years steadfastly knit her autumn, spirit mends the fracture

Seeds of Rose resewn, velvet petals caressed by silken hands

Life flourishes upon the vine, a seasonal play nurtures her soul 

Floret bursts vibrant joyful tears, the morning dew welcome

Butterfly released by a peaceful heart, perfect the outcome

Head resting upon lily-white sheets, Rose's heart finally whole

Empty chalice greets new dawn, spirit shimmers resplendent 

Man of gilded armor tendered, her champion she does find

Golden rays colour the garden eternal, Rose's spirit refined

Death holds out a withered hand, self-love glows evident  

Butterfly Rose

Red Petal Flutter

Fear Dancing in Arms of Love

Butterfly Rejoice

24

Single, is a different experience as retirement nears

Sorrows without solace, none to wipe your tears

Stirring in the night, no warm body do you find

Life, shared with no one, you can lose your mind

Good fortune blessed me one fine spring day

I spied my dearest in the home aisle at The Bay

Bedazzled by her beauty, I was helpless to adore

Her name Sealy, friends knew her as ... Twenty Four

Quickly, my lady proved a celebrity about town

Casting a spectacle in her bright red gown

People's obvious stares made my heart soar

How I love my sweet darling ... Twenty Four

Gliding across the dance floor, we caused a stir

Dapper was my tux, dazzling she was in fur 

The Cabernet chilled, two glasses I did pour

How I am falling for my dear ... Twenty Four

Pastor Bill cautioned it was too soon for us to wed

The church replete, no space for another head

With vows exchanged, our eternal love we swore

My beautiful bride, the adorable ... Twenty Four

Honeymoon travel tickets required a full name

Raising our eyebrows, we played their game 

Sealy / 24 Ounce / Down Filled / Machine Washable

Of course, everyone knows her as ... Twenty Four