Lonely Rose

Clouds lost their weightlessness

On this last day of autumn

Leaves crisp and golden

Now lay lusterless,

Withered with decay

On drenched gray earth.

Low lands, like lakes, from winter rains

Mirrored the heavy dark skies

that floated above.

Frost hardened the gravel

That crunched beneath the wheels

And threatened the fragile leaves

Of that lonely red rose

Through the glass

I watched day by day.

It stood alone amongst weary branches,

Bare, except for the spotted leaf

Like that lonely red rose

With the velvety petals

That hug tight,

Endured.

The rose survived through

Summer heat

Winter freeze, fierce winds

And the pounding rains,

It waited patiently like a matriarch

For the warmth of spring

To be the model to the many buds

Poised for a new beginning.

Its color changed from day to day

When rays peeked through veils

Of white thin clouds,

Its gold blush pulsated like sparkles.

When the blue gray clouds with silvery mist

Blanketed the surrounding trees

And gray winter weeds,

Softly caressing the velvety petals,

Its bright orange red petals glistened,

Like jewels dazzling the eye.

And then when dark heavy clouds cast black shadows,

Into deep crimson, bright red turned.

A valiant red rose

It was.

With a tenacious will

To fight the fearsome winds

That buffeted the sinewy sentinels

Convulsing trees,

And through heavy rains that shook the ground

That lonely red rose defiantly,

It stood alone.