bowed head, she is
an old woman sinking to herself:
thorns, stems, hips, perfume-
her bony fingers grasp
tight the last brown-burnt leaf
the soil is hard
stone-bed, mulched
with twigs & pitted-black petals
milk-dust snow is a knife
paring her delicate neck
the carbon air thins
hour by hour
knotting each pulse to static
until only the roots
remain, meager as beggar's cup
My roses during springtime
Posted for D'verse Poets Pub - Make the abstract concrete ~ Hosted by Marina ~
I am writing less these days because I have to study for my upcoming exams ~ Thanks for dropping by ~
Glad you could make it, Grace (and good luck with your exams).
ReplyDeleteGreat use of colour and vivid adjectives - not an ounce of excess or abstractness there! Pruning back rosebushes sounds and looks cruel, but we know it's good for them...
Thank you for the wonderful challenge Marina ~
DeleteOh.. I like this a lot.. a rosebush in autumn.. and it works for me as a metaphor as well
ReplyDeleteWe are already in winter...and the rose bush is dying or dead ~ Thanks Bjorn ~
DeleteAw dear good look with yours exams!
ReplyDeleteI love rosebush. Now we are in spring almost in summer and you close to winter!
We are covered with snow, so its winter here ~ Thanks Gloria ~
Deletean old woman sinking to herself...what a wonderful image that is grace...also the roots, meager as a beggar's cup... very cool... i always hate to prune back my rosebushes...but yeah... needs to be done... for their good
ReplyDeleteA striking magnificent poem where the parameters of the prompt are extant, but irrelevant; because the metaphor is wonderful, & the words are stirring; like the lines /milk-dust snow is a knife/paring her delicate neck/.
ReplyDeleteI hope they survive, Grace..this is a poignant poem, excellent usage of the prompt, as always.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your exams . . . you'll do great. Love the milk dust snow and the rose bush as a metaphor.
ReplyDeleteYou did good with the prompt and good luck with the exams :)
ReplyDeleteOh I like this poem, and especially enjoyed your lovely roses during the spring. Winter arrived early here, and my yard is full of snow, and it's cold! Went down to the single temperatures last night!
ReplyDeleteI can see this rosebush, Grace. They are very sad to look at this time of year. But I know it is good for them to rest over winter so they will return in full glory in spring. Good luck with your exams!
ReplyDeletebest wishes on the exams... lovely piece... i liken the scene to the season of a woman's life.
ReplyDeleteA rosebush after a few days of hard frost does look like an old woman. All the best with your exams, grace. We'll keep our finger crossed.
ReplyDeleteYou created a tender metaphor from this prompt, Grace. Loved the comparison to the old woman. Good luck with exams.
ReplyDeleteI loved reading your beautiful images of growing old. Then your springtime picture brings hope for a new generation.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes on the exams, Grace. I didn't know you were in school. I was for 35 years but on the teacher (prof) side for 22 of them. Then too, I taught 17 years, OJT, in my other life + Sunday school for most of my adult life.
Next time you visit me you can tell me your major and degree if there is one.
..
I have been out of school for many years Jim ~ This is a professional program sponsored by my company and I take a course towards fulfilling a designation in my field which is insurance ~ Thanks for the visit ~
DeleteQuite the rosebush indeed, not one to make one bleed haha Exams? Yuck lol good luck with them though
ReplyDeleteWow, Grace! This is a beautifully composed poem! Gorgeous work.
ReplyDeleteWhy study?
ReplyDeleteAs the years pass i am more able to relate to the old lady of the roses more so than the fresh kids of spring or the blossoming scents of middle aged blooms.
I actually took it as a metaphor and then realized how beautifully you weaved a poem around it. Lovely!
ReplyDeleteCool response to the prompt :)
ReplyDeleteYou wrote about the life cycle of this rosebush very well. Nicely done. Best of luck on your exams.
ReplyDeleteYour poetry is always intriguing and beautiful and this is no exception. :)
ReplyDeleteWonderful imagery.
ReplyDeleteit's amazing hoe you can describe the rose's death so beautifully. You have a special talent Grace. How wonderful.
ReplyDeleteWhat a slowly moving image of dying rosebush...melancholic poem, and compassion I feel in here - we at winter, well ...temporarily only ~ Keep warm and good luck for your exams :)x
ReplyDeleteBest of luck on your exams, Grace. I haven't been around much either - I'm taking a tax class and the homework is nuts! Have a fantastic week my friend!
ReplyDeleteBeautifully and deeply written. Best of luck with your exams! You'll do great :)
ReplyDeleteI hope your exams went well ~
ReplyDelete