Petal petulance

Pink and lilac tulips
             in a tall glass vase
an unerring beauty
             that will fade and droop
as the days pass
             as the hours expire

to think that in the heavens
             there are no wise stars
that in this universe
             so full of eyes
the world will relapse
             that love and tenderness
may be depleted
             by tides of naked sorrow
compassion for others
             withered in the cruel reign
of blind greed and contempt
             life cheapened and tainted
by the dark dissolving
             human heart

Roses red and white
             that draw blood on the thorn
fragrant flames of sunshine
             snipped from the bed of life

John Lyons