Rosarium

Poem

Photo by author

Black roses taint Cupid’s bow — lips stitched

with lipstick — sparsely used

breath turned cold — thorn ridden words

hold no weight — yet pierce the scalp

Summarised — the Gardener’s life

This last paragraph — inscribed

on plaque towards the rosarium

above the who-and-the-what

Dedicated to so-and-so,

groundskeeper of such-and-such

for over thirty four years

Should it turn a smile bitter

Marble covered in moss

I’ll take it to heart — I’ll plant

some rose bushes

wait their bloom — carve them out

I’ll sew them new purpose

build a wreath — muffle thought