Roses

Roses are naturals
         they bloom from year to year
first the tiny bud
         that bides its time
almost imperceptible
         until it swells in spring
and as summer enters
         splits apart
to permit the petals
         to spread in all their glory

Roses are naturals
         they have no agenda
other than to be 
         what they are
to add a little glamour
         to the garden
or to the parlour
         to welcome the honeybee
to soak up the morning dew
         to languish in the late
summer sun

Roses are naturals
         they invite endless admiration
and thrive on poetry
         proud of their beauty
they long to be praised
         but remember the thorns
are always there
         and they must be handled
with great care

John Lyons