Setting Fire to the Rose Garden

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flame

“Setting Fire to the Rose Garden” was my sixteenth poem for the Tupelo Press 30/30 Project last August. Many thanks to Lily June, who sponsored and provided the title.

Setting Fire to the Rose Garden

Each flower is a gift, a testament to
another morning’s arrival.
I watch you tend the firestar, its
mango-colored petals flirting with

the fire ’n’ ice’s elegant
red, accepting the pink indictment
of the flaming peace, and the
scarlet fireglow’s blush. You are like

a new sunlight crossing the day,
yet when I wave, a cloud passes over
you. Flames differ in this regard,
knowing they exist only as the product

of heat, oxidation and combustible
material, yet sharing their brief lives
with all who care to notice. I inhale
your dark thoughts, holding them

within, but later assemble my own
bouquet — wood chips and diesel
fuel, ground spinners, snakes,
strobes, rockets, candles, shells,

repeaters and a spark timer — and
plant it fondly in the garden. Oh,
how they’ll blossom before dawn’s
first touch. How they will shine.

roses

 

51 thoughts on “Setting Fire to the Rose Garden”

  5. I have read and reread this beautiful line:
    “I watch you tend the firestar, its
    mango-colored petals flirting with

    the fire ’n’ ice’s elegant
    red, accepting the pink indictment
    of the flaming peace…”

    A pink indictment will be my poetic ear worm today!

    Liked by 1 person

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  7. reminds me of the Love of God, starts in His kids a fire that cannot be put out. A fire shut up in our bones but cannot help to escape. This was lovely to read thanks…

    Liked by 1 person

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  8. Beautiful. In our home in Seattle, we had a rose garden, which we both loved, watching as the buds appeared then unfolded into bloom. Here in our condominium in Sapporo, we have no roses, but some of the gardens below and elsewhere in our neighborhood do, and are a joy to visit.

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  15. Well, there’s certainly a lot that can happen in a garden . . . beautiful blossoming, emotional tussles, a little revenge, some beautiful destruction . . . has the makings of a one episode soap opera. Thanks Lily June (is that a perfect name for a flower lover?) for the title and to you Robert for the great read.

    Liked by 2 people

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