Trellis

Trellis up this rose and make it climb
against the house. Protect from bruising hail
and leaf-destroying winds. Should rainfall fail,
bring water every week in summertime.
Keep hungry aphids from the tender stems
and guard each leaf from spores of sooty mold.
Your care will be returned a thousandfold
when summer blooms appear, like living gems.

How high the blossoms reach, like lover's faces
raised for kisses from the stooping sky,
or floral arms raised to the sun's embraces.
And when the tumbling scarlet petals tell us
winter's come, when roses fall and die
I'll bind my soul to prayer, like rose to trellis.

Collection available! Knocking from Inside