Thursday, December 3, 2009

December Rose: a poem




December Rose

Raised by late sun,
awakened from chilled slumber,

it kept to the mother stalk
out in the hard moldy garden

'til plucked

and placed in the crystal vase
that held hot July roses the
parent let go to tender summer hands
that snipped carefully and
cupped the colors as if
a precious rainbow had been caught.

A pale amber hue
and dusty powder scent
were betrayed by the winter
the rose held inside.

Partly opened, exposing a center
of brown musty death --
fully bowed --
needing support from the beveled glass edge,
it mourned being a December rose.

But it was to me
valiant and rare --
its solitude a gift of spirit,
its delicacy a reminder that we --

no matter how valiant,
no matter how rare --

will face our own Decembers.

 -by MLM Lydia ©

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12 comments:

SG said...

Such a nice parallel to our own lives...

Kittie Howard said...

Haven't a clue what a Meme-Free space it, just wanted to say that your poem really says much, love it...and age is only a number :)...I'm much older and just don't think about it...!

Rhiannon said...

Lydia,

How interesting that you posted this Rose pic and the poem...as there are tons of rose bushes that bloomed all through the spring and summer all around this apartment complex...all but one bush...the one right out my front living room window. Not one rose came up. I kept checking. I kept thinking it might have been my bad vibes from me or something. Then the other day I looked out the window and there was one beautiful perfect delicate red rose that had bloomed! It's still there, as I just went to my window and looked at it after reading your post.

I thought to myself "maybe it's just like me, a "late bloomer"!!..;o0

Love the snowfall in your blog..how clever...how'd you do that?

Blessings,

Rhi

Looking to the Stars said...

Wow, this was beautiful. I loved it! Thanks for sharing :)

Sage Ravenwood said...

A beautiful contrast. Thank you for a exquisite look into a winter's day. (Hugs)Indigo

Lydia said...

***HELLO! I finished my replies to all of you and went off to visit one of your blogs before posting my comments. Grrrr. The following are shorter versions of what I said before!

@Phoenix- I appreciate your comments, as always!

@Kittie Howard- It was your blog I clicked away to see before posting my replies. I'll hopefully never do that again! But I sure will visit your blog again; loved it.

@Rhi- Thank you for sharing the beautiful story of your apartment's rose bushes. You certainly do bloom! To get the Snow-Effects Widget go HERE.

@Looking to the Stars- Thanks much for your sweet comment!

@Indigo- It was a pleasure to share a bit of a winter's day with you, friend.

Nancy said...

Wow. So true, and a nice reminder to be grateful during good times.

Anonymous said...

what a fine rose. I like the white rose its finish.

Anonymous said...

Great poem Aunt. I believe so. All of us have to face our own December rose.

Lydia said...

@Yoga Tramp- So appreciate your visit and comment!

@Nancy- Yes. I'm reminded lately that it's important also to not project about the future, thereby losing the present.

@Jukka- Thank you...and Hello! You are back now to blogging? I will be over to visit and hope that all is well in your life.

@Riyadh- Kind compliment indeed.
I think it's important to honor those Decembers when they come. I tried to do that for my mother.

Ben said...

Howdy! Good to see you again. I love your poem. Has elements of mystery, romance, and natural beauty all combined together. Very excellent!

Lydia said...

Ben~ Nothing like replying over a year later! I was just back at this post to give the link to a blogging friend and read your comments. Thank you so much. It has been ages....I will click to see if you are still in the blogosphere!

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