Ten red roses
Ten red roses arrived today
the symbolism so unfair
reminding me of love and hate
deepest passion and criminal despair
ten red roses, innocent and pure
the scent a reviving swoon
straight, long and proud of head
they come with a prick in regal bloom
"my love's like a red, red rose
that's newly sprung in June"
or dark like the long shadows
under the cold monkey moon
ten red roses arrogant beauties
in a blood red vase they'll stay
until their petals one by one
they'll die and be thrown away
the red rose a metaphor
for life's many trysts and turns
a salve, joy, passion, love
or scars of slow healing burns