Flowers

beauty and danger
your small delicate flower
surrounded by thorns
–
clearing haze-
following the trail
of blood diamonds

tending his garden-
rich black soil etched deep into
his leathery hands
–
honeybees
a thistle hides
among the roses

alabaster skin
flush with the pain of pleasure
however fleeting
–
lilacs in bloom-
bees harbored
in the blossoms

out with the mistress-
his rose garden wilting in
the seething sun
–
my delicate rose-
thorns buried
in my skin

gathering pollen-
down among the lavender
the honeybees work
–
august sun-
on the pond
the lotus blooms

glints of green and gold
hummingbirds in the neighbor’s
honeysuckle vine
–
lilacs-
delicious
in the wind

leaves swirl in the wind-
a blackbird takes his respite
on my windowsill
–
dandelion seeds-
wishes adrift
on the wind

lace curtains drawn back-
shadows of tiger lilies
adorning my walls
–
breakfast for one-
fresh cut blooms
on the table

an early robin-
lichen covered granite steps
cut into the hill
–
holly berries-
amid the ivy
a cardinal

rivers of sunlight-
the waking ocean meets the sky
and the coming dawn
–
sunrise-
morning glory
blossoms