First Poem The Lovely Roses for Thursday December 29 2022 Jill

[jill stockinger]

This is for our group discussion for Thursday, December 29, 2022. Jill

The Lovely Roses    by Jill Stockinger

 

From the effulgent garden,

I choose twelve showy red roses

to compose a bouquet to brighten

the dullness of our dining room.

Though the thorns draw blood,

I  ignore their efforts to repel

my steadfast, intent gathering.

After a week inside, the roses   

pale and droop. I put sugar

in the vase to prolong their lives

but the petals still drop, gently,

one by one, and then in bunches.

Soon after, only the scent remains,

and even that fades fairly quickly.

Several roses prick me as I add

their remains to the compost bin.

As drops of blood flower on my hands,

I smile wryly and once again

affirm the truth to that old saying:

“There is no beauty without pain.”